Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine results could potentially lead to a “fully safe Australia”, with the first doses set to be distributed to elderly Australians and healthcare workers by March next year.
Speaking today after the pharmaceutical company released preliminary results showing between 70 and 90% effectiveness, Mr Hunt described the trial results so far as “very good”.
Mr Hunt said the interim results gave Australia a “pathway to not just a COVID-safe Australia, but a fully safe Australia — a return to normal”.
The Federal Government has agreed to buy 33.8 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with 3.8 million doses to be imported from overseas manufacturing plants.
It is understood the first doses of the vaccine would likely be given to healthcare workers and the elderly in March, assuming the vaccine gains Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval in Australia.
The remaining 30 million doses will be manufactured locally by Melbourne-based firm, CSL.
