Covid: Australia hopes to roll out almost 85 million vaccine doses

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Australia says it will secure almost 85 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine if two promising trials prove successful.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country had struck two deals that would allow free doses to be rolled out in 2021 if they were approved for use.

Mr Morrison estimated the cost to be A$1.7bn (£0.9bn; $1.24bn).

Australia's 25 million people could begin receiving doses from January but there were "no guarantees", he said.

"However the agreement puts Australia at the top of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light," the prime minister said.

One vaccine is from Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, while the other is a local one from the University of Queensland and CSL.

Australia has recorded more than 26,000 coronavirus cases and 769 deaths, most in the past two months after an outbreak in Victoria.

The state announced on Sunday it was extending its strict lockdown for another two weeks, before gradually easing restrictions.

Under the plan, people in Melbourne will not be able to visit other households for group gatherings until at least late November.

Vaccines to be produced in Australia

Most of the vaccines would be manufactured in Australia in line with previous promises, the government said.

The nation has agreements for 33.8 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and 51 million doses of a UQ vaccine, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Early access to the Oxford vaccine – if it is found to work – could begin in January and February with 3.8 million doses secured for that period.