Australia secures 50million doses of two more coronavirus vaccines - and they could be rolled out across the country within WEEKS
- The federal government has previously signed deals to buy two Covid vaccines
- Now Scott Morrison has signed two more agreements with vaccine companies
- Deals are for 40m doses from Novavax and 10million from Pfizer/BioNTec
- The government hopes to roll out a vaccine around Australia early next year
Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the University of Queensland last month
Scott Morrison has signed deals to buy two more Covid-19 vaccines if they pass ongoing trials.
The federal government will potentially buy 40million doses from American company Novavax and 10million doses of a jab jointly produced by US firms Pfizer and BioNTech.
Both vaccines are undergoing large final-stage trials around the world and could be approved for use in Australia by early next year.
The Novavax vaccine requires two jabs per person which is why the government is buying so many doses for a country of 25million.
The deals worth $1.5billion add to agreements already signed with the University of Queensland and the University of Oxford and take the total number of potential doses secured to 134million at a cost of $3.2billion.
Announcing the new deals, Mr Morrison said in a statement: 'By securing multiple Covid-19 vaccines we are giving Australians the best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful.
'We aren't putting all our eggs in one basket and we will continue to pursue further vaccines should our medical experts recommend them.
'There are no guarantees that these vaccines will prove successful, however our Strategy puts Australia at the front of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light.'
The federal government will buy 40million doses of a vaccine produced by American company Novavax and 10million doses of a jab jointly produced by US firms Pfizer and BioNTech. Pictured: Sydneysiders at Royal Randwick racecourse on Tuesday
The deals add to agreements already signed with the University of Queensland and the University of Oxford and take the total number of potential doses secured to 134million
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he hopes all Australians who want a jab to be vaccinated by the end of next year.
'The goal and the expectation is that Australians who sought vaccination will be vaccinated within 2021,' he said.
The doses will be rolled out to the elderly and critical workers first.
'Health and aged care workers and the elderly and vulnerable will be the first to gain access to a vaccine that's deemed safe and effective,' Mr Hunt said.
The federal government is currently consulting with the states and territories, key medical experts and industry peak bodies on how to distribute the vaccine.
Key vaccination sites will initially include GPs, GP respiratory clinics and workplaces such as aged care facilities.
Any Covid-19 vaccination will be free and optional.
The government is inviting suppliers with a proven track record in vaccine logistics and distribution to put their hands up to help roll out a vaccine.
Key vaccination sites will initially include GPs, GP respiratory clinics and workplaces such as aged care facilities. Pictured: Richmond, Melbourne last week
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2020-11-04 11:30:00Z
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