Australia is in talks with Moderna Inc to establish domestic manufacturing of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines such as the company's Covid-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. Australia, which on Wednesday agreed to buy 25 million doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, has pledged to spend A$1.5 billion to revitalise manufacturing across six sectors, including pharmaceuticals.
The move to put manufacturing at the centre of a long-term recovery plan comes amid a realization that Australia has been too reliant on Asia for the supply of essential goods. Sour relations with top trading partner, China, and the pandemic’s impact on global supply chains have also strengthened that view.
"Onshore manufacturing would ensure a secure, long-term supply of Moderna's mRNA-based vaccines against Covid-19, including variants, and for potential future pandemics," Morrison said in a statement. MRNA vaccines prompt the body to make a protein that is part of the virus, triggering an immune response. - AFP
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