Government buys up millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine, one to be manufactured in Melbourne
The federal government has secured 50 million doses of two more COVID-19 vaccine candidates, with one of the most promising to be manufactured in Melbourne from next week.
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One of Australia’s most promising vaccine candidates will begin being manufactured at Melbourne’s CSL facility next week.
Scott Morrison confirmed the first doses of locally-made AstraZeneca vaccine would be available next year, in time for a planned 2021 rollout if a vaccine is approved.
The Prime Minister said Australians should have hope for the future following the inking of a deal for 10 million units of the Novavax candidate and 40 million doses of the leading Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine.
“Australians can take more hope and as we move towards Christmas and as families gather around, as borders come down and Australians can connect with each other again safely,” Mr Morrison said.
Mr Morrison confirmed the vaccine rollout plan was nearing completion, with states and territories working with the federal government to approve a roadmap before Christmas.
Deakin epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said there was always risk producing vaccines before they have been approved.
“But there’s benefit from having the production ready when you finally get those approvals rather than having to start production and wait another three or four months,” Prof Bennett said.
“The further we get through this phase three trials and signs remain good around safety and efficacy then the risk progressively becomes smaller and the benefit of being able to move quickly … it’s just so important.”
Australia now has agreements for more than 130 million units across candidates being trailed by AstraZeneca and Oxford, University of Queensland and CSL, Novavax, and Pfizer and BioNTech.
Data from the Pfizer and Oxford trials could be available “within weeks”, according to the Uk government vaccine task force chairwoman Kate Bingham.
Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said Australia was in an excellent position to begin vaccinations early next year.
“We still have to see which vaccine works better in which population and how effectively, but we have not put all our eggs in the one basket,” Dr Murphy said.
“We have diversified our strategy and we have the capacity now to start
vaccinating the Australian population in the first quarter of next year which is a terrific outcome and gives us a very, very strong position internationally in access to vaccines.”
None of the potential vaccines have yet been proven safe and effective but there are hopes most of the population will be vaccinated by the end of next year — and 1.5 million of the most vulnerable before the end of summer.
The Prime Minister said Australia was not “putting all our eggs in one basket” and would pursue more deals if they were recommended by medical experts.
He said by having more vaccines lined up, Australians would have “the best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful”.
“There are no guarantees that these vaccines will prove successful, however, our strategy puts Australia at the front of the queue if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light,” he said.
The new deals mean Australia could have to two protein vaccines, one mRNA vaccine and one viral vector type vaccine, costing more than $3.2 billion so far.
People in frontline health and service jobs, as well as those in high-risk health categories such as the elderly are expected to receive the first available doses.
Australians may need two units of whatever candidate is approved, like other common vaccination programs.
The federal government has been working with Victorian authorities, medical experts and industry bodies to agree on a rollout plan to be approved by National Cabinet by the end of the year.
Work has already begun in Victoria to ensure that there are enough trained professionals to administer the vaccines once they receive approval.
GP offices, respiratory clinics, pre-existing vaccination sites and workplaces including nursing homes will be among the first to administer vaccines.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he expected anyone who wanted a shot to receive one sometime next year under the free but non-compulsory scheme.
It is unlikely Australia will be able to fully reopen international borders until a vaccine has been found.
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