Published 18:25 IST, November 5th 2020

COVID-19: Australia orders additional 135 million vaccine doses for mass inoculation

Australian government signed an agreement for $1.7bn AUD ($1.24 bn USD) for early 85 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from AstraZeneca by January 2021.

Reported by: Zaini Majeed
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On vember 4, Australian government agreed to purchase two more COVID-19 vaccines, increasing count to 135 million doses in total for its population to combat COVID-19 infection, health minister Gregg Hunt informed. Australian PM Scott Morrison aims to immunize maximum people in a countrywide mass iculation program within months. Australian government signed an agreement for $1.7bn AUD ($1.24 bn USD) for early 85 million doses from AstraZeneca by January 2021 and has procured an ditional 40 million vaccine doses from vavax, and 10 million fro Pfizer and BioNTech. 

“By securing multiple COVID-19 vaccines we are giving Australians best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful,” Prime Minister Morrison said.

“We aren’t putting all our eggs in one basket and we will continue to pursue furr vaccines should our medical experts recommend m. re are guarantees that se vaccines will prove successful, however our Strategy puts Australia at front of queue, if our medical experts give vaccines green light.”

According to a release by BioPharma, Scott Morrison’s government has pledged free COVID-19 vaccines across Australia if trials for experimental candidate by University of Queensland are successful. government has ordered vaccines according to 2 doses per person plan and aims to manufacture doses in Melbourne. Meanwhile, according to an update by Indo pacific’s Centre for Health Security, Australia h pledged $80 million to COVAX Facility vance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC) for safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines to be me available for 92 countries in Asia Pacific region. COVAX AMC is part of wider COVAX Facility set up by Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Invations (CEPI), Gavi Vaccine Alliance, and World Health Organization to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all developing countries. 

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Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a release, “ goal and expectation is that Australians who sought vaccination will be vaccinated within 2021. re are surprises, health and d care workers and elderly and vulnerable will be first to gain access to a vaccine that’s deemed safe and effective.”

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"Australia will assist with assessment of vaccine safety, efficacy and quality by national regulatory authorities, informed by WHO vises," Australian ministry of health informed.

4 s of vaccines

An ditional $500 million was pledged by Australian government for implementation of  "full immunization cover" in region. In an interview with TV brocaster Nine Network, Australia’s Health Minister Greg Hunt said that vavax and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be manufactured in US and Europe and are an dition to Australia’s 4 s of vaccines two protein, one viral vector, and one MRMA. Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and vavax are leing in human clinical trials of effective COVID-19 vaccine. 

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18:26 IST, November 5th 2020