Australia is 'ahead of schedule' for COVID-19 vaccine plan - 9News

Australia is "ahead of schedule" in the federal plan to roll out a national COVID-19 vaccine, the country's Health Minister Greg Hunt has said.

Mr Hunt today announced the government has finalised its contract with Novavax - which will secure more than 40 million doses of the vaccine.

If proven to be successful and safe, the injection will be made available in the first half of 2021.

Health Minister Greg Hunt provides national update on COVID-19. January 3, 2021. (9News)

"We remain on track and ahead of schedule for our vaccine roll-out," he said.

Mr Hunt said the government would remain firm on the issue of voluntary vaccination, also ruling out the possibility of a 'no-jab-no-pay' policy.

Mr Hunt said voluntary vaccination remains an "important national principal".

"We have no plans to use that policy mechanism in this case," he said.

"We have no plans to vaccinate children and no plans whatsoever in order to use that particular mechanism."

Australia has finalised its contract to secure 40 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. (AP)

Mr Hunt also announced more than $10 million in funding for six COVID-19 research projects including a new vaccine that does not require storage at ultra-cool temperatures.

The projects include an accelerated clinical trial of two 'next generation' vaccines against COVID-19.

The projects also include two recovery projects focusing on neurological and respiratory recovery for patients of COVID-19.

Another of the projects focuses on the use of ultraviolet light to reduce infection rates in aged care facilities.

Each of the grant recipients fall under the government's Medical Research Future Fund Clinical Trials Activity Initiative.

Australians will not be forced to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Mr Hunt said. (AP)

Australia has conducted more than 11.4 million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic and there remains zero patients on ventilation around the country.

Mr Hunt congratulated the Australian community at a time where the global average remains at roughly 600,000 new infections per day.

"We've been tested, we've been challenged but so far, we've passed."

"We will get through this."

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2021-01-03 03:12:00Z
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