Coronavirus vaccine hoarders will be judged terribly by history, says Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison has declared that Australia will share a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus if it manages to produce one.

Scott Morrison has declared that Australia will share a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus if it manages to produce one. Picture: Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison has declared that Australia will share a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus if it manages to produce one while issuing a stark warning that any nation that chooses to withhold a cure or sell it for profit will be “judged terribly by history.”

Following a meeting of the national cabinet on Friday the Prime Minister declared that the first country to develop a vaccine must share it with the rest of the world.

“There’s never been a global effort like this and there are some positive signs there that we can be hopeful about,” Mr Morrison said. “Australia is positioning itself well to take advantage and be in a position to be able to manufacture and supply vaccines should they be developed.”

Mr Morrison said there had never been a global effort quite like the race to develop a vaccine and reconfirmed that if Australia was the first to develop a vaccine, it would share its findings around the world.

“Whoever finds this vaccine must share it,” he said. “Any country that were to find this vaccine and not make it available around the world without restraint, I think would be judged terribly by history and that’s certainly Australia’s view.”

Pressed about whether his message was directed to a particular nation, Mr Morrison said “that’s not what I’ve said.”

Acting Chief Health Officer Professor Paul Kelly said his team was optimistic a vaccine would be developed but it was too early to say if and when one would become available.

“Many companies, well over a hundred different types of vaccine that are in development, and many of those are already in clinical trials in what has been described by some as warp speed,” he said.

“So these things normally take years. It’s taking months, even weeks, to get here.”

Professor Kelly said Australia was considering “advance purchasing” options or the materials needed to manufacture one locally.

“We’re looking very clearly and carefully about advance purchasing as well as local manufacturing options,” he said.

“We’re looking of course at the regulatory aspects to make sure that whatever does become available works as well as being of high quality and, of course, being safe.”

Mr Morrison said there was no guarantee a vaccine would be produced and therefore it was critical the government’s health response was critical.

“We look forward to that but you can’t count on that. That’s why the economic plan that we’re putting in place and have been now for many months is so important,” he said. “You have to address the health issues and perhaps it will be a treatment first as opposed to a vaccine that will mitigate the impact and enable broader restrictions to be eased.”