AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, AZD1222, as a potential candidate for an emergency use authorization (EUA) via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Phase 3  clinical trials findings point to significant efficacy and safety. Australia is positioning itself to receive the first doses of the investigational product, originally developed by University of Oxford. Australia approved a second vaccine purchase involving 26 million doses to be manufactured locally by CSL.

The Australian Government has made a $1.7bn AUD ($1.34bn USD) supply and production agreement for COVID-19 vaccines: with the first doses set to come from AstraZeneca’s vaccine in January 2021.