Australian Govt Partners with UK Firm AstraZeneca for Oxford Vaccine

The vaccine will be made available for free to all Australian citizens if found successful

 

The Australian government has reached a deal recently that would ensure that Aussies get free doses of the vaccine that is under development at Oxford University. To access the vaccine, the government has penned an early agreement with AstraZeneca, a UK based firm. The Oxford vaccine is considered vital among the most promising efforts to beat COVID-19 among 29 vaccine attempts all over the world that are undergoing human trials right now.

 

Though there is no word yet on the cost of the Oxford vaccine, our Prime Minister said that the doses would be offered for free. If the deal with AstraZeneca moves ahead, high-risk individuals such as healthcare workers will get it first.

 

In addition to the deal with AstraZeneca, the Australian govt is also considering the option of producing a vaccine locally. PM Scott Morrison showed faith in the work of the University of Queensland team.

It has been reported that the vaccine from the Oxford University program would be a reality by the end of this (horrible) year.

 

Talking about the deal with AstraZeneca and the attempts to get a vaccine, the PM Scott Morrison said, “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. However, 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.”

 

Giving a rough estimate of the administration of the Oxford vaccine, he said, “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.”

Australian govt deal with AstraZeneca is one of its kind as no other country has partnered to procure the vaccine yet. In addition to the Oxford vaccine, the govt is also focused on procuring the essentials. It has signed a deal worth AUD 25 million with a US pharmaceutical company, Becton Dickinson, to get100 million needles and syringes.

 

As the country has reported 450 coronavirus deaths, the attempts made by the Australian govt, be it the deal with AstraZeneca to procure the Oxford vaccine or sign a deal with Becton Dickinson, seem good enough to some. However, the govt is not very keen about procuring the Russian COVID vaccine as experts are concerned about the skipping of essential trials before its release.