17 January, 2026, 10:44 am Central - 28°C Rain

Coronavirus vaccine: Australia promises free doses if trial succeeds

Coronavirus vaccine: Australia promises free doses if trial succeeds

By Semi Turaga
19/08/2020
The vaccine is being developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University. [Image:BBC.co]

Australia says it has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine and will be able to offer free doses to its entire population of 25 million people.

The vaccine is being developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if clinical trials are successful, the deal with AstraZeneca would secure "early access for every Australian"

Australia's death toll from the coronavirus stands at more than 400.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is one of five promising candidates to reach an advanced stage of clinical trials, with countries around the world seeking to secure supplies for their own populations.

[Source: BBC]

FEATURE NEWS
Ageing fleet and rising costs threaten Fiji’s inter-island transport
Ageing vessels and skyrocketing costs are putting Fiji’s inter-island transport network under serious strain, raising alarms about the future of the...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Lakeba Airport runway expansion considered to boost Lau tourism
The Government is exploring the expansion of Lakeba Airport’s runway to accommodate an ATR-42 aircraft as part of broader efforts to boost ...
13 minutes ago

TSLS launches self-service guarantor delisting kiosks at Nadi Airport
The Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service has launched two new Self-Service Guarantor Delisting Kiosks at the International Arrivals Concourse at ...
2 hours ago

New evacuation centre to safeguard Maumi Village from disasters
Residents of Maumi Village in Bau, Tailevu, now have a safe and accessible refuge during disasters following the opening of a new multi-purpose ...
2 hours ago

New $7M project aims to strengthen women’s resilience in the Pacific
Oxfam in the Pacific has today launched the Pacific Oceanic Women Enhancing Resilience Project and has received $7 million from the Government of ...
17 hours ago

Three juveniles identified for Nabua motorcycle incident
Three juveniles aged 15 and 13 have been identified for allegedly throwing water at a motorcyclist, resulting in an accident in Nabua on ...
18 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Electricity tariff increase for users consuming more than 100 units
There is an increase in the electricity tariff rate for consumers using more than 100 units from 1 January next year.Fijian Competition and Consumer ...
15 days ago

Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States remains deeply concerned about indicators of trans-national organised crime and human trafficking in Fiji associated with the Grace ...
26 days ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
26 days ago

TOP