‘Extraordinary development’: University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine set for mid-2021 release

In an ‘extraordinary development’, Greg Hunt says the UQ vaccine will potentially be available to Australians around July.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says the University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine will potentially be available to Australians around July of next year.

Mr Hunt on Friday said the initial data showed the Australian vaccine was “proving to be safe” and producing a positive antibody response, declaring it an “extraordinary development”.

Associate Professor Keith Chappell, inventor of UQ’s Molecular Clamp technology used to develop university's SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Picture: Liam Kidston

It comes as the Therapeutic Goods Association confirmed it expects to be able to approve the first coronavirus vaccine in late January, with jabs of five million people to begin in March.

“The initial data is very clear that the vaccine is proving to be safe through phase one clinical trials and that it is proving to produce a positive antibody response,” Mr Hunt said on Friday. “That means it is doing its job.

“That may come as a positive surprise to many people here in Australia and around the world but what it shows is that we are ahead of schedule,” he said.

CSL is making the vaccine ahead of time so it can be released immediately, if trials prove successful.

“CSL will now move for regulatory approval to commence phase three clinical trials before the end of this year and that is an extraordinary development,” Mr Hunt said.

“It means that this vaccine will potentially be available, subject to the results of those trails, for delivery to Australians early in the third quarter of 2021. Our national goal is to ensure that all Australians who seek to be vaccinated are vaccinated by the end of 2021.”