Australia To Manufacture Promising Coronavirus Vaccine, Will Give It Free To Citizens, Says PM Scot Morrison

Sydney: Holding out hope for its citizens, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday said the country has secured access to a “promising” potential coronavirus vaccine. What is more, Australia would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Morrison said that Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University, The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported quoting the news agency AFP.

“The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian,” the report quote him as saying.

“If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.”

It may be noted that the Oxford vaccine is one of five globally in Phase 3 efficacy trials, and researchers hope to have results by the end of the year.

AstraZeneca has also signed agreements to provide doses to the US, Europe and Brazil.

Morrison said Australia remained “committed” to ensuring early access to the potential vaccine for Pacific countries and regional partners in Southeast Asia, TNIE reported.