Australia is likely to take until 2023 to produce its own messenger RNA vaccines like those from Pfizer and Moderna, as scientists call for a huge federal investment to match countries that already have manufacturing deals.
One scientist said the federal government’s funding promises so far were “wildly insufficient” to expand local vaccine research and development to a scale that could attract a company like Moderna. University of Queensland biotechnology professor Trent Munro, who launched a pilot mRNA program in April, said Australia had a “compelling proposition” to produce vaccines for the region because of its reputation for clean and safe manufacturing.“We should be doing everything we can to attract the companies that can help.“But unless we do a deal that involves a very strong strategic relationship with a commercial partner that is already doing mRNA, it won’t make much difference.
“I think it would be exceedingly optimistic, those short timeframes. I think the middle timeframes are the most likely,” he said last week. Moderna has expanded its manufacturing in Europe and the US to supply one billion doses this year and three billion next year, while Pfizer and BioNTech are aiming for three billion doses this year and four billion in 2022.
CroweDM like every other industry it's been out sourced to o/s to save money /increase profits for the few, the rest suffer.
CroweDM Has CSL dropped the ball since they went private? Perhaps we need a new government owned vaccine facility.
CroweDM Australia has for so long ignored science. Both parties only speak. Unions are biggest culprit. When a truckie or a plumber with less intellect earns more than a scientist the country does not value science. It’s simple as that as there is no incentive. Shameful state of affairs
CroweDM But if our whole population is vaccinated for Covid by the end of 2021, why would we need to produce an mRNA vaccine in 2023? Or is the plan to have people injected every few months?
CroweDM MorrisonLockdown MorrisonOutbreak MorrisonSh1tShow MorrisonFailure Take your pick, the buck stops with him and his appalling cabinet. Not failing to mention the Murdochification of politics that brought us here.