Health Minister reveals Australia’s plan to manufacture COVID vaccines

Australia will start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine this month if all goes to plan, according to Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Australia will start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine this month if all goes to plan, according to Health Minister Greg Hunt.

The government hopes to have rolled out the vaccine to every Australian by the end of 2021.

Mr Hunt also revealed the priority list for the vaccine, subject to cabinet approval, with healthcare workers and elderly Australians set to get the vaccine first

This will then be closely followed by “essential workers”. It’s unclear who qualifies for the role of an essential worker.

It’s expected the first doses will be available as early as March next year.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the analytical laboratory at AstraZeneca on August 19, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Mr Hunt revealed that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine will likely begin production by vaccine manufacturer CSL in November.

He said the government is also angling to buy two additional COVID-19 vaccines.

That means Australians will be able to access four types of vaccines — the two newly acquired ones, as well as Oxford’s AstraZeneca vaccine and the vaccine the University of Queensland is working on.

“The expectation is that everybody who sought vaccination would be vaccinated well within 2021,” Hunt told The Herald Sun.

He said this would allow Australia to open up its international borders.

“Our goal is to have the borders open, subject to vaccination and health advice, by the end of 2021,” he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt during a press conference in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

For the vaccination plan to work, health officials want two thirds of the population to receive the jab, to ensure herd immunity is achieved.

The government isn’t concerned about anti-vaxxers, saying they make up a very small part of the population.

“Australians have been great vaccinators and whilst there is noise from the anti-vaxxers I think they’re making more noise but having less impact,” Mr Hunt said.

“The indications are already that there’s very, very high public interest in being vaccinated.”

The Australian government has announced an agreement with the British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to secure at least 25 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if it passes clinical trials. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Vaccinations will be free to encourage as many people as possible to opt in for the jab.

It’s expected two doses will be required. These jabs will be spaced 30 days apart.

The government plans to have a system to record who have and haven't been vaccinated, to help with contact tracing and any other issues that may arise.

The scheme is dependent on the National Cabinet, which is set to meet again on November 13 and will either approve or reject these plans.