Coronavirus: Vaccine volunteers for mid-year trials

Volunteers will be recruited for accelerated clinical trials of two COVID-19 vaccines by the middle of 2021, Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed on Sunday.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt addresses the media at Mount Martha LSC, south of Melbourne, Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Volunteers will be recruited for accelerated clinical trials of two COVID-19 vaccines by the middle of 2021, Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed on Sunday.

The vaccines, being developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, are among six ­chosen to receive a share of $10.1m in federal grants.

Volunteers must be aged between 18 and 75 years.

Mr Hunt said the projects — supported by the $20bn Medical Research Future Fund — would also use germicidal ultraviolet light to reduce infection rates in aged-care facilities and 3D-printed face masks to match facial shapes and prevent leaks.

He said the clinical trials of “next-generation” vaccines would help Australia prepare if the COVID-19 virus mutated or if multiple jabs were needed to fight off the pandemic.

“We don’t know whether or not further vaccinations will be required after this year, but we do know we will prepare for every eventuality,” he said in Melbourne. “Our advice is our current vaccines are likely to be effective, and we’ve reviewed that on a daily basis against existing mutations.

“What we don’t know … is whether or not there will be further mutations which may require new types of vaccines.

“Or in particular, whether revaccination will be required in the same way (as) for the flu.”

Scott Morrison last week said the government would stick to its March timetable for a COVID vaccine rollout.

Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen said Labor was concerned about the amount of vaccine doses the government had secured for the first rollout and the pace of a planned universal jab program. “We support the independence of the TGA. We are not calling on the TGA to do anything more quickly than they otherwise feel inclined to do …

“What we are saying is that as soon as the TGA has approved the Pfizer vaccine as being safe and effective, it should be rolled out,” Mr Bowen said.

“We have no access to the Moderna vaccine, no access to the J&J vaccine; we need better access to those vaccines if they are the ones that come through.

“We all hope the AstraZeneca vaccine comes through soon but again, we need to ensure we have full access to it. At the moment, Australians are relying on the Pfizer vaccine. And that won’t be out until March and we only have 10 million doses.”