Plans to hire 200 staff for a vaccine manufacturing plant in Scotland were frozen after Boris Johnson pulled the plug on a £1billion contract.
Valneva has been forced to “pause” the recruitment drive, while 100 existing jobs at the Livingston site are under threat, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
The firm’s “whole virus” jags are expected to be approved for use in coming months and have the potential to beat all strains of Covid-19.
But the UK Government inexplicably cancelled an order for 100million doses in September – putting the lab’s future into doubt.
Valneva is understood to be considering relocating its Livingston operation.
Alba leader Alex Salmond noted the Valneva “has the likely edge in defeating future Covid variants”.
He added: “The vaccine cancellation was a wanton act of breathtaking irresponsibility.”
Scottish Labour’s health and Covid recovery spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “We need every possible weapon in our arsenal in the fight against this new variant.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: “I think the Scottish and UK Governments should be looking into what role a plant like this could play in keeping the people of Scotland and around the world safe.”
The Scottish Government said: “We continue to offer support and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and business minister Ivan McKee met virtually with the company on Wednesday to discuss further options.”
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