Following its effectiveness during the Covid pandemic, the Vaccine Taskforce’s functions will be permanently integrated into government structures.
The government has stated that the primary operations of the Vaccine Taskforce (VTF) will be merged with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) in the autumn.
The VTF was established in 2020 to tackle Covid’s exceptional challenge, with the goal of securing viable vaccinations for the UK as soon as feasible. The VTF was successful in obtaining early access to the Oxford/Astra Zeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, allowing the UK to be the world’s first country to deploy a licensed Covid vaccine.
The VTF has also played an important role in assisting with global vaccination distribution efforts. The United Kingdom was one of COVAX’s first and largest donors, assisting the organization in delivering 1.5 billion doses worldwide to date.
The vaccine program is well established, and contracts with manufacturers have been signed to continue supporting the UK’s immunization programs this year and beyond, including access to reformulated vaccinations. People should continue to apply for Covid vaccinations and booster doses when they are eligible.
The VTF’s vaccine supply responsibilities will be transferred to the UKHSA in October to establish a permanent function. Staff from the VTF will join a new directorate within UKHSA to enable a smooth transition and to integrate lessons learned from the VTF.
The Office for Life Sciences, a combined body of the Departments of Health and Social Care and Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, will take over responsibility for the VTF onshoring programme.
Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, stated:
“The VTF has performed exceptionally during the pandemic, securing early access to the most promising Covid vaccines which allowed the UK to be the first country in the world to begin its life-saving vaccination programme. The wall of defence built by vaccines is allowing us to live with Covid without restrictions and get back to doing the things we love.
From autumn, the VTF and UKHSA will work as one unit to ensure we are prepared for all future health threats and they will build on the success of the Covid vaccination programme to improve our other life-saving immunisation programmes.”
Madelaine McTernan CB Director, General of the Vaccine Taskforce, said:
“The VTF has demonstrated how working in partnership across Government, industry and academia can deliver incredible results. I am very proud of what the VTF has delivered over the last two years, both here in the UK and internationally, thanks to the hard work and will to win of a great many people.”
Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UKHSA, said:
“This is a real investment by Government in UKHSA and a strong recognition of the excellent science and new thinking encapsulated in our organisation – a very exciting opportunity for us all and one which helps us realise new ambitions as a global scientific leader. With its innovative way of working and close links with academia and industry, the Vaccine Taskforce functions joining us will be a tremendous asset – complementing our excellent vaccines and immunisation work.
“We look forward to welcoming our colleagues and the invaluable expertise they will bring. Embedding their unique approach will help us realise our future ambitions around science and innovation, and crucially strengthen our pandemic preparedness and build resilience to future health threats.”