PM: COVID-19 vaccine could arrive before March

Scott Morrison says Australians could receive a COVID-19 vaccine earlier than first thought, but a rollout in the UK has hit problems already.

A coronavirus vaccine could arrive in Australia earlier than promised, the Prime Minister says.

Australians were set to receive their first COVID-19 vaccines in March, but Scott Morrison said the rollout could start ahead of schedule.

“We think a bit earlier (than March), but that’s the current timetable,” he told 2GB Radio.

“We’ve put our effort into a number of different vaccines. There is no expectation that all of those will come off, and that’s why you cover yourself off across a number of them.

“But the AstraZeneca vaccine, in particular, and the Pfizer vaccine are going very well.”

Scott Morrison says a COVID-19 vaccine could be rolled out in Australia earlier than scheduled. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The UK began rolling out the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier this week. But British authorities have cautioned people with severe allergies against taking the shot, after two patients had reactions on the first day of the rollout.

Despite its approval for rollout in the UK, the Pfizer vaccine will continue to undergo trials, a fact that has sparked concerns over unforeseen side effects.

The UK has recorded more than 10,000 cases every day this week and more than 60,000 Britons have died from COVID-19.

Mr Morrison said the dire situation meant the UK had “no choice” but to expedite its rollout, but downplayed fears Australia would face similar hiccups.

Margaret Keenan, 90, the first patient in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Picture: Jonny Weeks/The Guardian

“Australia will have a front-row seat to how that goes, and we’ll learn from that,” he said.

“But the health side of this is paramount. The Therapeutic Goods Administration must give its tick-off, so there are no shortcuts there.”

He confirmed he would discuss the vaccine rollout schedule with state and territory leaders when National Cabinet met on Friday.

It comes after Health Minister Greg Hunt claimed last week the federal government was “ahead of schedule” in its five-step vaccination plan.

He told reporters he was hopeful Australia would be in a position to approve at least once vaccine by January or February.

Originally published as PM: COVID-19 vaccine could arrive before March