CSL to deliver a million doses of Aussie-made vaccine a week by end of March

A major health company has fast-tracked the first doses of its Aussie-made vaccine, delivering a million each week by the end of next month.

As the European Union threatens to block exports, CSL have fast-tracked the delivery of the first doses of its Australian-manufactured coronavirus vaccine.

The nation’s biggest health company has confirmed it’s on track to provide the Federal Government with a million doses a week by the end of March, according to a report from The Australianlast night.

While CSL had scheduled to deliver the first of more than 50 million doses sometime during the second quarter of this year, delivery will now be just three weeks behind the start of the Morrison government’s “NASA-like” COVID-19 vaccine plan.

A CSL spokeswoman told the publication the company was also on track to begin the fill and finish process at its factory in Melbourne’s Parkville– a process that involves preparing bulk vaccine products into vials ready for inoculation – in the next fortnight.

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CSL have fast-tracked the delivery of the first doses of its Australian-manufactured coronavirus vaccine, providing a million doses a week by the end of March. Picture: Sai Aung Main/AFP

“We remain on track with our timelines and expect ‘fill and finish’ to commence in the middle of February with first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine – tested, approved and released by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) – from late March,” she said.

“CSL is working hand-in-hand with AstraZeneca and the TGA to have the AZD1222 vaccine manufactured and delivered to Australians as quickly as possible, without compromising the safety or quality of the vaccine.”

Vaccinating against COVID-19 is the easiest way for Australians to get their normal lives back, but millions are hesitant to get the jab.

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Out of the four vaccines Australia has secured, the AstraZeneca vaccine forms the bulk of the Federal Government’s $3.3 billion immunisation program.

Under its agreement with the pharmaceutical giant, the Government has arranged to import 3.8 million doses of the jab from Europe to cover the gap between the beginning of our local vaccine program and the delivery of the locally-produced doses.

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Despite the EU planning to restrict the export of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines – following claims that the UK had “hijacked” doses of the latter – Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia’s rollout remains on track, insisting our doses won’t be delayed.

“The guidance from the EU is provisional and preliminary at this stage, so I will remain cautious, but that guidance is that the EU regulatory steps are not aimed at Australia and not expected to affect Australia,” Mr Hunt said on Sunday.

He added that he’d “spoken directly” with the Australian country heads of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

“We have our diplomats that are working with the World Health Organisation and the European Union through the commission,” Mr Hunt said.

“And the advice that we have from all three sources at this stage is that our vaccine supply and guidance remains on track.”

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Yesterday, the Health Minister also encouraged community pharmacies to help administer the vaccine via an expression of interest process, deeming it one of the “largest logistical operations in our country’s history”.

“Using the existing network of thousands of community pharmacies will ensure the general population have broader access to COVID-19 vaccinations, provide choice in where the community receive a vaccine, and address barriers to access some parts of rural and regional Australia,” Mr Hunt said.

“Participation in the program will be voluntary and pharmacies will need to demonstrate they meet the highest safety standards and have capacity and capability to deliver COVID-19 vaccines, as well as ensuring they continue to provide important services to their local communities.”