Kate Jones, Minister for Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and Minister for Cross River Rail, announced over the weekend that the Queensland Government has done a deal to start manufacturing a COVID-19 vaccine in Queensland.
“Global biotech giant CSL Ltd today inked an agreement with UQ and major funding backer the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). That means our vaccine is now only one of five worldwide to have a manufacturing deal with CEPI,” Jones said.
“This is a huge announcement for Queensland. It won’t just save lives throughout the world – it will help to create jobs here in Queensland in our pharmaceuticals industry.”
Jones went on to say that “today we’re putting out the call for up to 100 volunteers to take part in human trials on a Queensland-developed COVID-19 vaccine next month. If you’re fit and healthy and aged between 18 and 55 – we want you!”