Free vaccine deal signed as multi-billion fight back strategy begins

A deal to ensure Aussies early access to a free COVID-19 vaccine has been signed, with a well-known doctor appointed to decide who will be the first to get any jab.

A multibillion-dollar “vaccine and treatment strategy” has been set up to end COVID-19 in Australia, as a deal is signed to ensure every Aussie will get ‘early access’ to a free vaccine – if its trials prove successful.

The deal with pharmaceuticals producer AstraZeneca will be the first of many agreements to secure vaccines and treatment.

Doses of the UK-developed vaccine will be able to be produced straight away in Australia if it passes its world-leading clinical trials.

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A multi-billion COVID-19 vaccine and treatment strategy is being developed. It includes securing early access to a possible vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca. Picture: Douglas Magno/AFP

The doctor who became the face of Australia’s response to the pandemic, Professor Brendan Murphy, has also been drafted to lead an expert advisory group who will guide the nation’s vaccine strategy.

This includes deciding which vaccines candidates and treatments to sign up to and purchase, how it will be rolled out and which priority groups will get the jabs first.

The multi-billion dollar vaccine and treatment strategy will include costs for research, manufacturing and production, as well as commercial arrangements to secure vaccines.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today announce a deal has been signed for the AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine candidate.

“The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian,” the Prime Minister said.

“If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.

“However there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researches at the same time to find a vaccine.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce a deal to secure a vaccine to be developed by AstraZeneca has been signed. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

A Letter of Intent has been signed, while a final formal agreement will later will cover distribution, timing and price of the vaccine.

The project could deliver the first vaccines by the end of 2020 or early 2021, if all goes well.

There are currently 167 vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical trials, including 29 undergoing clinical trials in humans, which is why the expert advisory group has been set up.

Another $24 million deal has been signed with Becton Dickinson to purchase 100 million vials and needles to ensure there will be no shortage of medical supplies to deliver the doses.

The COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments for Australia – Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group, headed by Prof Murphy, met for the first time this week and includes scientists, biotech and pharmaceutical experts.

Originally published as Free vaccine deal signed as multi-billion fight back strategy begins