British scientists are primed to create the next pandemic vaccine in 100 days as super-lab Porton Down develops prototypes to tackle ‘Disease X’ – with bird flu, tuberculosis and monkeypox on the radar

British scientists are leading the charge to create a vaccine to halt the next deadly pandemic within 100 days of it breaking out.

Experts are working on a high-security project at Porton Down, the top-secret government laboratory, to develop prototype vaccines to tackle ‘Disease X’ when it hits.

The ambitious target would smash the 362 days it took to develop a Covid jab, potentially stopping crippling lockdowns in future.

Scientists agree it is only a matter of time until the next pandemic, with a recent government report putting it among the biggest threats to life this year.

The new super-lab, to which the Mail was invited last week, is geared to work with the world’s deadliest live viruses, with more specialist ‘high-containment’ labs than anywhere in Europe.

Read more: British scientists are primed to create the next pandemic vaccine in 100 days as super-lab Porton Down develops prototypes to tackle ‘Disease X’ – with bird flu, tuberculosis and monkeypox on the radar