The Australian government has secured two deals to distribute 85mln doses of a COVID-19 vaccine next year if the formulations get approved.
The agreements were inked with Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN), jointly working on a jab at the last stage of clinical trials, and with the University of Queensland and biotech CSL, a local formulation at the first phase of trials.
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AstraZeneca would distribute 33.8mln doses and CSL 51mln, in deals worth £900mln together.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the doses could be distributed to Australia’s 25mln residents for free starting in January, but there were "no guarantees", the BBC reported.
The country aims at immunising 95% of the population.