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University of Oxford
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine trial is in an advanced stage
Australia says it has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine and will be able to offer free doses to its entire population of 25 million people.
The vaccine is being developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
If clinical trials are successful, the deal with AstraZeneca would secure “early access for every Australian,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Morrison said it was likely vaccinations would be mandatory.
Australia has recorded 450 deaths from coronavirus, mostly from an outbreak in the state of Victoria.
Earlier this month, Victoria declared a state of disaster and put them on strictly guarded measures following an increase in infections.
It still has more than 7,000 active cases, but the number of new infections has decreased in the past week.
Promise to produce in Australia
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is one of five promising candidates to reach an advanced stage of clinical trials, with countries around the world seeking security for their own populations.
“If this vaccine proves successful, we will produce and deliver faxes directly under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians,” Mr Morrison said.
The cost of delivering the vaccine to the entire population is not yet fixed. In addition, Australia has signed a $ 25 million (£ 13.5 million; $ 18 million) deal with Becton Dickinson, a US pharmaceutical company, to supply 100 million needles and syringes.
The deal with AstraZeneca is Australia’s first such fax deal.
If tears were successful, Mr Morrison said he hoped the vaccine would be available early next year. Production would require an extra few months.
Would it be mandatory?
Mr. Morrison said he expected a successful vaccine “would be as mandatory as you can afford”, although his government still shaped the policy.
“There are always exemptions for every vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis,” he told radio station 3AW.
“We are talking about a pandemic that has destroyed the world economy and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands around the world, and here more than 430 Australians.”
The country would aim to vaccinate 95% of the population, he added.
