While the deals were already on the table, the health secretary said ministers sped up the process of signing them due to the emergence of omicron.
The agreement – which involves an additional 60 million Moderna jabs and 54 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses being delivered next year and in 2023 – will also give Britain access to any modified vaccinations if they are needed to combat omicron or any subsequent new variant.
While there is uncertainty over the need for future vaccine campaigns, Mr Javid insisted the move “will future proof the great British vaccination effort … and will ensure we can protect even more people in the years ahead”.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) added that the new deals are in addition to 35 million additional doses of Pfizer already ordered in August, for delivery in the second half of next year, as well as the 60 million Novavax and 7.5 million GSK-Sanofi doses expected at some point in 2022.
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