Australian population could be vaccinated by end of the year

Scott Morrison is set to outline his top five priorities for the year ahead, including his ambitious plans for the nation’s coronavirus vaccine rollout.

Almost $2bn will be poured into Australia’s vaccine rollout in coming months, with the federal government confident the whole population could be inoculated by October.

Scott Morrison on Monday will outline his top five priorities for what could be an election year before parliament returns this week. Virus suppression and a swift and safe vaccine rollout will top the Prime Minister’s list, followed by economic ­recovery, jobs creation and the improvement of essential ­services.

He will say the country would continue on its “Australian way” through the health and economic crisis, saying nine out of 10 jobs lost to COVID-19 had returned.

A further $1.9bn will be spent to get hospitals, GP clinics and pharmacies ready to administer millions of vaccine doses this year, as well as to pay for the logistics and data systems required to get such a big task completed.

Mr Morrison was expected to highlight Australia’s relative success during the global outbreak while warning against complacency.

“The pandemic is still raging,” Mr Morrison will tell the National Press Club. “The virus has not gone anywhere. Indeed, it is morphing into new and more virulent strains. So we must remain vigilant.”

A man receives a dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday said there would be at least 2000 locations spread across the country where Australians would be able to be vaccinated — double what the government had expected.

Mr Morrison will use his speech to explain what the $6.3bn Australia has invested in the development, procurement and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines was buying.

“We’ll have thousands of points of presence across Australia — hospitals, GPs, pharmacies, respiratory clinics, Aboriginal health services and a specialist surge workforce,” Mr Morrison will say.

“This will ensure we get the vaccine to all Australians, including people in rural, remote and very remote areas and others who are hard to reach.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

The Prime Minister was also expected to make other announcements during the address that will also focus on Australia’s challenges in a changing global landscape.

The Herald Sun understands the federal government hopes the speech and increased information around the rollout would see consumer and business confidence surge, leading to a boost for the sluggish economy.

Mr Morrison will boast Australian jobs were returning.

“The comeback in Australia’s economy is already underway and betters the experience of most advanced economy nations in the world,” he will say. “Australians are now voting with their feet to join the economic recovery.”

The official unemployment rate fell from July’s 7.5 per cent to 6.6 per cent in December.

“Consumer and business confidence has recovered as restrictions have come off and will be further supported by the vaccine rollout,” Mr Morrison will say.