The UK has secured an additional 40 million doses of the yet-to-be approved Valneva vaccine.
This brings the UK's total orders of coronavirus vaccines to 407 million doses, including 100 million doses of the Valneva jabs.
The latest batch of the Valneva jab is earmarked for delivery in 2022 and is a signal that the government is making preparations for the years ahead.
The Valneva vaccine has not yet entered Phase 3 trials, which are needed before it can get approval from the MHRA regulator, the Mirror Online reports.
An early-stage phase 1/2 study is expected to give results within the next three months.
But last week the French firm began manufacturing its vaccine at a factory in Livingston, West Lothian, backed by millions of pounds from the UK government, in case it is approved for use. Boris Johnson visited the site last week.
The Government has also retained options over a further 90 million doses for supply between 2023 and 2025. Valneva said the total value of the entire order was up to 1.4 billion euro (£1.24 billion).
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In total the UK has ordered 407million doses of seven different vaccine candidates since the pandemic began:
- BioNTech/Pfizer – 40 million (APPROVED AND ROLLING OUT)
- Oxford/Astra Zeneca – 100 million (APPROVED AND ROLLING OUT)
- Moderna - 17 million (APPROVED BUT NOT YET IN UK)
- Novavax – Phase 3 - 60 million
- Janssen – Phase 3 - 30 million
- GSK/Sanofi – Phase 1/2 - 60 million
- Valneva – Phase 1/2 - 100 million
The Valneva jab is expected to be given as two doses and is being made at a site in West Lothian, with the Government saying the new deal "will bolster long-term vaccine production in Scotland".
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, said: "This latest deal is yet another weapon in our national arsenal against this terrible disease, and will ensure we have sufficient supplies to protect the British public in 2021 and beyond.
"Backed with major investment from the UK Government, Valneva's site in Scotland will be a vaccine production powerhouse, working flat out to ensure we can quickly deploy jabs across the UK if their candidate is approved, while supporting top quality, local jobs.
"Thanks to our incredible UK Vaccine Taskforce, we have now secured a bumper portfolio of over 400 million vaccines, putting our country in an exceptionally strong position to defeat this virus once and for all."
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "If approved, Valneva's vaccine will not only help tackle Covid-19 here in the UK, but aid our mission to ensure there is a fair supply of vaccines across the globe.
"No-one is safe till the whole world is safe."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The Valneva vaccine showcases the best of Scottish expertise right at the heart of our UK vaccine endeavour, demonstrating the strength of our union and what the UK can achieve when it works together.
"If the vaccine is authorised by the health regulator, it will be rolled out across the four nations as quickly as possible."
