The Government has already secured 40 million doses – enough for around 20 million people. Key results are expected to emerge before those for the Oxford vaccine. The promising jab is being developed by German firm BioNTech and US drugs giant Pfizer, who have enrolled more than 42,000 volunteers to test it.
Pfizer boss Albert Bourla said researchers may discover whether the vaccine is successful by early November.
He added: “We have reached the last mile.
“Let’s all have the patience required for something so important for health and the global economy.”
If the Pfizer jab passes trials, the company plans to produce 100 million doses globally by the end of the year and a further billion next year.
Meanwhile, US firm Moderna also said that it was on track to report early data from late-stage trials of its vaccine next month.
