Australians to get free coronavirus vaccine if trial succeeds
The federal government has struck a deal to secure 25 million coronavirus vaccines from a UK drug giant which is working with the UK’s Oxford University to see if it is safe and effective. If the trial succeeds, every Victorian would get a free dose.
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Every Australian will receive a free coronavirus vaccine if a world-leading trial succeeds.
The federal government has struck a deal to secure 25 million vaccines from a UK drug giant which is working with Oxford University to see whether it is safe and effective.
Those leading the trial hope the vaccine could be approved by the end of the year.
Doses would then be produced straight away for Australians, most likely by CSL in Melbourne.
The “promising” vaccine is one of about 160 being developed around the world.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he and other world leaders felt it was the “most promising” one so far, but work was being done with others as well to ensure Australia did not miss out if another proved successful earlier.
The government’s multi-billion dollar plan will also consider deals for other viable vaccines and treatments for the virus.
“(Health Department Secretary) Professor Brendan Murphy is heading up an expert panel to advise us on additional vaccine developments,” the Prime Minister told the ABC.
“There are 160 around the world and we’ll be looking to take further positions and there’s already work underway on that.”
Mr Morrison said he was hopeful a vaccine could be rolled out next year but work was also being done to work out how Australia could go on without a vaccine if one was never found.
“That’s why having strong testing, tracing and outbreak capacity capabilities are so critical to enable Australians to get on with their lives,” he said.
“We are working towards and hoping for and planning and preparing for a vaccine, but equally, at the same time, you need to ensure that you can reopen your economy and you can get on top of the outbreaks that are there.”
Mr Morrison said the Oxford vaccine was “one of the most advanced and promising in world”.
“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,” he said.
“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 researchers at the same time.”
Mr Morrsion said the successful vaccine would be as close to mandatory as possible.
“I would expect it to be as mandatory as you can possibly make it,” Mr Morrion told 3AW.
“There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds but that should be the only basis.
“We’re talking about a pandemic that has destroyed you know, the global economy and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands all around the world and over 450 Australians here.
“We need the most extensive and comprehensive response to this to get Australia back to normal.”
Trials on the Oxford drug are under way in the UK, Brazil and South Africa and will run for several months.
The government has now signed a letter of intent with AstraZeneca, as well as a $24.7m deal with medical technology company Becton Dickinson for 100 million needles and syringes, which will ensure the vaccine can be distributed as soon as possible.
Health Department secretary Professor Brendan Murphy will lead a new advisory group probing the potential of 167 vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical trials, including 29 options being tested on humans.
Mr Morrison said: “We are taking advice from Australia’s best medical and scientific expertise to ensure that the government’s work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge.”
The government is also committing to helping Australia’s Pacific neighbours secure a vaccine.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australian officials had been meeting with developers of promising vaccine candidates for months.
“We are confident these actions and targeted investments will put us in the best possible position to secure early access to safe and effective vaccines,” he said.
CSL is focused on developing the University of Queensland vaccine candidate, after human trials started last month. But the Melbourne-based medical giant is also in talks with the government and AstraZeneca about producing the Oxford vaccine.
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