{"id":7780,"date":"2020-08-19T23:09:06","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T23:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=7780"},"modified":"2020-08-19T23:09:06","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T23:09:06","slug":"new-deal-secures-potential-covid-19-vaccine-for-every-australian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/08\/19\/new-deal-secures-potential-covid-19-vaccine-for-every-australian\/","title":{"rendered":"New Deal Secures Potential COVID-19 Vaccine For Every Australian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australians will be among the first in the world to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, if it proves successful, through an agreement between the Australian Government and UK-based drug company AstraZeneca.
\nUnder the deal, every single Australian will be able to receive the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for free, should trials prove successful, safe and effective.
\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison said the Oxford University trial was in a phase three stage and more work was needed to prove its viability.
\n\u201cThe Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian,\u201d the Prime Minister said.
\n\u201cIf this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.
\n\u201cHowever, there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine.
\n\u201cWe are taking advice from Australia\u2019s best medical and scientific expertise to ensure that the Government\u2019s work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge.\u201d
\nThe Prime Minister also remains committed to ensuring early access to the vaccine for countries in our Pacific family, as well as regional partners in Southeast Asia.
\nThe Government has also released Australia\u2019s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy, guided by a group of medical and industry experts.
\nThe Strategy sets out Australia\u2019s approach to acquire doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines based on:
\n1. Research and development
\n2. Purchase and manufacturing
\n3. International partnerships
\n4. Regulation and safety Immunisation administration and monitoring
\nThe first announcements under the strategy are the signing of a Letter of Intent with AstraZeneca to supply the University of Oxford\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine candidate to Australia and a consumables contract with Becton Dickinson for the supply of needles and syringes.
\nThe Letter of Intent covers vaccine development, production and distribution. It commits to production of the vaccine in Australia, subject to safety and effectiveness.
\nA final formal agreement will include distribution, timing and price of the vaccine.
\nBecton Dickinson has been contracted to supply vital consumables, such as needles and syringes, to ensure that we can deliver vaccine doses as soon as we have them.
\nMinister for Health, Greg Hunt, said \u201cFrom early on Australian officials led by my department has been meeting with developers and manufacturers of a number of promising vaccine candidates, both domestic and international, over recent months.
\n\u201cWe are confident these actions and targeted investments will put us in the best possible position to secure early access to safe and effective vaccines for Australia.\u201d
\nThe country\u2019s most experienced scientists, biotech and pharmaceutical experts have been brought together to provide advice on acquiring a portfolio of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccinations.
\nThe COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments for Australia \u2013 Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group met for the first time earlier this week.
\nThe advisory group is led by Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health, who has a leading role in managing the Government\u2019s pandemic response.
\nThe group will also provide advice on implementing Australia\u2019s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy that drives the Government\u2019s work with the states and territories, research organisations, industry, regulators and other countries.
\nMinister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Australia\u2019s manufacturing capability is a huge asset in the push to deliver a COVID vaccine.
\n\u201cThe Australian pharmaceutical industry and its ability to produce vaccines is already among the best in the world and that puts us in a strong position to be able to roll out a COVID vaccine as quickly as possible,\u201d Minister Andrews said.
\n\u201cThrough a coordinated approach and strategic investments we can also improve our knowledge and strengthen our manufacturing capability to respond in the future.\u201d
\nAustralia is contributing significantly to vaccine development work both in Australia and around the world, investing $333 million in vaccines, therapeutics and COVID medicines – including $256 million in vaccines.
\nThis includes $5 million for the University of Queensland\u2019s innovative \u201cmolecular clamp\u201d COVID-19 vaccine. This Australian vaccine has commenced trials here in Australia.
\nThe University of Queensland has partnered with CSL to manufacture its vaccine here in Australia. CSL has made a commitment that its dose allocation of the University of Queensland vaccine will be used, at a minimum, to support its long-standing public health commitment to the Australian community
\nMore information is available on:<\/p>\n