Every Australian will get a free coronavirus vaccine dose as the Morrison government confirms an agreement to secure at least 25 million doses of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine if trials prove successful
it was "too early" in the vaccine trial to discuss funding figures, but industry sources believe the AstraZeneca asking price would be about $8 a dose.A final formal agreement with the company will include distribution, timing and price of the vaccine. The government is also in negotiations with a handful of other international companies to secure access to their candidate vaccines.
Mr Morrison said the government was taking advice from Australia's best medical and scientific expertise to ensure the government's work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on "best available knowledge". He said a deal to secure 100 million needles and syringes would ensure the vaccine could be delivered as soon as it's produced and guard against international equipment shortages.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australian officials had been meeting with developers and manufacturers of a number of promising vaccine candidates, both domestic and international, over recent months. He said the country's 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, with the science and industry technical advisory group meeting for the first time earlier this week.
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