Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he intends to make a free COVID-19 vaccine “as mandatory as possible” once it’s available.
Samantha Maiden and Charis Chang news.com.au – August 19, 2020
News.com.au revealed today that the Morrison Government has confirmed a landmark agreement with drug giant AstraZeneca to manufacture one of the world’s most promising coronavirus vaccines currently being developed by Oxford University researchers.
If it’s proved safe to use, Prime Minister Scott Morrison believes the agreement will ensure Australians will be among the first countries in the world to secure the jab, revealing this morning it could be available to Aussies as soon as early next year.
The UK Government has already ordered 100 million doses.
Asked whether the vaccine would be mandatory, Mr Morrison told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell that it needed to get to about 95 per cent of the population.
“I would expect it to be as mandatory as you can possibly make it,” the PM said.