Coronavirus: Australia on cusp of vaccine deal, says Health Minister Greg Hunt

Greg Hunt hopeful a vaccine will be available by next year, revealing plans to produce it here.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt says a deal is close to produce a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. Picture: AAP

Health Minister Greg Hunt says he is “genuinely optimistic” a COVID-19 vaccine will be internationally available by next year, declaring the nation is close to reaching a deal to produce it in Australia.

Mr Hunt told Sky News on Sunday that he had been cautious in the past to say that a vaccine would become available but the latest medical advice had been a “genuine ray of hope”, suggesting there had been great progress across multiple vaccine candidates.

“We are in advanced negotiations with a range of different companies with regards to a vaccine,” he said. “I have been very cautious in the past about the prospect of a vaccine. I am now on the basis of our best health advice, genuinely more optimistic.

“I think the world is moving closer to a vaccine, and it’s unlikely that it will be just one, it’s likely that it will be many.”

A total of 168 candidate vaccines are being worked on around the world, according to a WHO overview published last week, with the leading candidate for an Australian deal developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Mr Hunt said Australia was making very significant progress in negotiating access to multiple potential vaccines and would ideally manufacture any potential candidate onshore through domestic vaccine manufacturer CSL.

“We are very fortunately placed due to years and years of preparation, with regards to having the national reserves facility which CSL operates,” Mr Hunt said. “That means it has a capacity through its vaccine secures based in Melbourne to produce vaccines, under contract from around the world.”

Mr Hunt called this resource an “exceptionally important national asset” as it would mean every Australian has access to a vaccine if one becomes available.

“We are well placed in our negotiations and for the first time, I feel cautiously but genuinely optimistic about the prospect of a vaccine.”

Mr Hunt said he couldn’t reveal the names of the companies the Morrison government had entered agreements because of two nondisclosure agreements but assured Australians they were in an “advanced position” in their negotiations.

“...This is a genuine ray of hope, and we’re advanced, we’re prepared, and we’re in a position to produce.”