Mapping the Future of Cell Culture and Cell Line Development genengnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from genengnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Australia will likely have to wait until at least 2023 before it can begin producing mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna.
At present the AstraZeneca vaccine is largely not recommended for residents aged under 60 unless they are in Covid outbreak regions and speak to their GPs, and the Pfizer jab is advised for most Australians.
But there are fears current Australian investment in research and infrastructure is way behind what is needed to attract a pharmaceutical giant here to make the preferred vaccine.
Australia s shortage of the preferred Pfizer vaccine has eased for now, but there are major concerns about our ability to attract a pharmaceutical giant here to help produce millions of doses of locally-made mRNA vaccine such as Moderna or Pfizer
Share
Manufacturing mRNA vaccines will be the jewel in the crown of Australia’s pandemic response for many years to come and local organisations are now lining up to occupy this empty centrepiece.
No one yet knows how it will be filled. Will it be with one powerful entity such as CSL? Will there be a cluster from select states or something else?
Moderna has done a deal to supply 25 million doses of its vaccine to Australia.
AP
The government commissioned McKinsey, at a cost of $2.2 million, to provide professional advice on a business case for onshore mRNA manufacturing capability, but the report remains confidential.
Advertisement
Pfizerâs vaccine partner BioNTech has announced it will build a huge mRNA vaccine plant in Singapore, days after the pharmaceutical giant ruled out making its coronavirus shots in Australia.
The development underscores criticism from industry and experts that Australia is not an attractive place to make new drugs and treatments â even as the federal government tries to set up its own mRNA vaccine plant.
Australia has 51 million doses of Novavaxâs COVID-19 vaccine on order.
The announcement comes as Novavax, which is making 51 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for Australia, has again delayed production, potentially further pushing back Australiaâs vaccine rollout.