The UK government stated on 2 March 2021 that the UK will receive 10 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday.

A UK government spokesperson told Reuters "The UK has ordered 100 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, of which 10 million doses will come from the Serum Institute of India,"

SII, considered the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, is mass producing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, for dozens of poor and middle-income countries.

Reportedly, several low-income and middle-income countries ranging from Bangladesh to Brazil are dependent on SII's AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, branded COVISHIELD, but demand has been growing from Western countries.

SII is also providing doses to the COVAX programme backed by the World Health Organisation and GAVI vaccine alliance.

The UK government said its agreement follows assurances from the SII that providing doses to the UK would not impact its commitment to provide vaccines to poorer countries.

According to official data, the UK has been ahead at inoculating people, with nearly 20.5 million residents receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine so far.