Covid: Australia expects to launch nearly 85 million doses of vaccines

Australia says it will secure nearly 85 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine if two promising trials are successful.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country had reached two agreements that would allow the implementation of free doses in 2021 if approved for use.

Morrison estimated the cost at A $ 1.7 billion (£ 0.9 billion; $ 1.24 billion).

Australia’s 25 million people could start receiving doses from January, but “there were no guarantees,” he said.

“However, the agreement puts Australia at the top of the queue, if our medical experts give the green light to vaccines,” the prime minister said.

One vaccine is from the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, while the other is local to the University of Queensland and CSL.

Australia has recorded more than 26,000 coronavirus cases and 769 deaths, most in the past two months after an outbreak in Victoria.

Under the plan, people in Melbourne won’t be able to visit other homes for group gatherings until at least the end of November.

Most of the vaccines would be made in Australia in accordance with previous promises, the government said.

The nation has agreements for 33.8 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and 51 million doses of a UQ vaccine, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Early access to the Oxford vaccine, if found to work, could begin in January and February with 3.8 million doses secured for that period.

The UQ / CSL vaccine is in phase one of clinical trials, which include testing in a small control group.

The Australian government has said that immunization will not be mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. The nation aims for a 95% vaccination rate.

Morrison said Australia also remained committed to ensuring access to vaccines for its neighbors in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Countries around the world have been quick to conclude deals for potential vaccines, raising concerns that poorer nations may be lost.

In July, the World Health Organization said 165 countries had signed up for a fund that would allow richer nations to help poorer nations with access.

About 140 potential vaccines globally are in early development, and dozens are being tested in people in clinical trials.