Here's Everything We Know About Australia's Coronavirus Vaccine Deal

If successful, the Oxford vaccine will be free for Aussies.

Earlier this week, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that Australia was in "advanced negotiations" to have a coronavirus vaccine manufactured here. 

Mr Hunt told Sky News that he is "cautiously but genuinely optimistic" that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available by 2021.

Now, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed that the Australian government has reached an agreement with the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to manufacture millions of doses of Oxford University's potential vaccine, which is called ChAdOx1nCoV-19 or AZD1222.

Of course, the potential vaccine will need to clear clinical trials first. But if it is successful, it will be provided to Aussies for free. 

Naturally, you have probably got a bunch of questions about the vaccine and how it'll work.

So, let's go through it together.

Okay, so why the Oxford University vaccine? 

The Prime Minister pointed out that the vaccine being developed by Oxford University is "one of the most advanced and promising in the world." 

As reported by BBC UK, trials involving 1,077 people showed the injection led to them creating antibodies and T-cells that can fight coronavirus. 

This discovery is promising because separate studies have suggested antibodies may fade away within months, while T-cells can stay in circulation for years.

Additionally, there were no serious side effects reported, except for a minor headache that could be treated with paracetamol. 

How would Australia make the vaccine?

Basically, if Oxford University's vaccine proves both effective and safe, Australia will receive the patent for creating the vaccine.

That means that we'll be able to start manufacturing it here, instead of waiting patiently for millions of vials to be shipped from overseas.

When will Aussies get the vaccine (if it's successful)?

If the Oxford trial is successful, the first vaccines could be delivered by the end of this year or by early 2021. 

Although, the details haven't been finalised yet, so this could always change depending on how the trials go. 

At the moment, the Oxford trial is in phase three, which includes testng the vaccine on people from the UK, Brazil, South Africa and soon the United States as well. The aim is to recruit around 30,000 volunteers.

Will Aussies with pre-existing medical conditions receive it first?

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, it's likely that priority candidates for the first doses of the vaccine will include people over 60 and Australians with co-morbidities such as asthma, heart disease, transplant recipients ans cancer patients.

However, the Prime Minister said those details will depend on the official medical advice and how the program is rolled out.

What happens if the Oxford trial isn't successful? 

Good question.

Well, around 160 different clinical trials are already taking place internationally and 29 human trials are underway.

The Prime Minister has also pointed out that Australia is continuing discussions with other parties, so we're not solely relying on the Oxford vaccine. 

"However, there is no guarantee that this, or any other vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine," Mr Morrison said. 

Mr Hunt said that Australian officials have been meeting with developers and manufacturers of a number of promising vaccine candidates, both domestically and internationally, over recent months.

Will the coronavirus vaccine be mandatory?

There is definitely a high chance that the COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for Aussies.

If trials succeed and we secure the vaccine, Mr Morrison said Australia would have a target rate of 95 per cent vaccination, which would account for people with health conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated.

"I would expect it to be as mandatory as you could possibly make it," Mr Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW. 

"There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis." 

Victoria recorded 216 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths overnight, while seven more cases have been confirmed in New South Wales.

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