Prime Minister ‘should be backing Queensland vaccine’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been told to throw his endorsement behind the University of Queensland’s candidate vaccine over a Oxford University contender.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison should be throwing his endorsement behind the University of Queensland’s candidate vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 rather than the Oxford University contender, a Queensland senator has told The Sunday Mail.

“We have one of the most advanced vaccines in the world being produced right here in Queensland. Instead of backing Queensland researchers and Queensland jobs, he’s taken his business to England,” Senator Anthony Chisholm said.

The Prime Minister announced this week that the Federal Government had signed a letter of intent to procure the British candidate vaccine and if it proves successful it would be provided free to all Australians.

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Senator Anthony Chisholm says the Prime Minister should be endorsing a vaccine being developed by University of Queensland researchers.

But the head of the UQ’s research team Professor Paul Young told The Sunday Mail that the race is against the virus not other research teams and the Prime Minister has made a sensible move.

The British vaccine has yet to go through phase three trials and there is no guarantee it will protect humans from the virus. The discovery of a successful vaccine is still up in the air for scientists around the globe.

“Why has the Prime Minister completely snubbed the University of Queensland and done a deal to secure the Oxford vaccine? A deal with the Australian Government could create jobs here in Queensland and would have a better chance of saving lives. I urge the Prime Minister – don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Support Queensland researchers and Queensland jobs,” Senator Chisholm said.

The Federal Government has invested $5m into UQ’s molecular clamp vaccine.

Professor Paul Young says the UQ researchers are in a race against the virus. Picture: NCA NewsWire

But Professor Paul Young, the head of UQ’s vaccine research team told The Courier-Mail that it was a sensible move from the Prime Minister to obtain the letter of intent for the Oxford candidate vaccine as it is a race against the virus and not a race against other research teams.

“There are no guarantees with any vaccines in development, and the more ‘shots at goal’ the better. COVID-19 has prompted unparalleled research collaboration as scientists understand that the world will need more than one successful vaccine to beat the pandemic,” Prof Young said.

“ At UQ we have always been clear that this is a race against the virus, and not against other vaccine approaches. We have an agreement in place with CEPI and CSL for the development and manufacture of the UQ vaccine if it proves successful. We are continuing to work with our partners to progress the vaccine as quickly as we can, while at the same time ensuring that it is safe. ”

It is possible that the Federal Government will sign other supply deals as time progresses but the Prime Minister’s office declined to comment.

In a study, published in The Lancet last month 543 healthy adults were immunised with the Oxford vaccine and it sparked no worrying effects and mild symptoms were treated with paracetamol. The vaccine stimulated a good immune response. It now will be trialled on thousands of people.

While the Queensland candidate is a step behind in clinical trials it too has shown great success and all eyes are on the UQ team. Last month 120 volunteers began the first phase of human trials.

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said: ”Our vaccine – made in Queensland by Queenslanders – could save millions of lives throughout the world.”

Originally published as Prime Minister ‘should be backing Queensland vaccine’