When you look at the below article from earlier this year it correlates with the IDT announcement recently as the government asked CSL to do the same thing with their facility with Novavax but they said they cant while making AZ.
Same question asked of IDT and here we are. Getting site sterile ready and on standby.
Despite both being protein-based vaccines, the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines require different manufacturing methods. A CSL spokesperson said the company had considered making both at once, but said there were differences between the two sets of production.
CSL said it had already “retooled” its laboratory with “significant adjustments” and “extensive preparation work” to make the AstraZeneca model.
That included new equipment, hiring workers for an “around-the-clock production schedule”, approvals for handling a live virus, and new material to allow the production of huge numbers of vaccines, the company said.
However, TND understands the government had never anticipated CSL would produce both vaccines at once, and had always hoped it would make Novavax’s model sometime in the future.
Health minister Greg Hunt told TND that Novavax’s current contract with Australia would see the 51 million doses manufactured at several sites in Europe. However, manufacturing in Australia is seen as a preferable option.
TND understands the federal government considers Novavax a long-term future option, and as a “backup” for the priority vaccines, AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Health minister Greg Hunt says Australia already has “whole of population” coverage with those two vaccines for the short-term.
However, the Novavax jab is seen as potentially having more long-term advantages.
For instance, it’s unclear whether COVID vaccines will need future booster shots after the first doses, much like annual flu jabs. Large-scale trial results for the Novavax vaccine are still being collated, but it is hoped that it might be more effective long-term if multiple or yearly jabs are required.
"I have a very strong feeling that Novavax, or one of the other protein vaccines will be the long-term option for vaccination for the world,” Professor Kelly, said.
“We always had a backup in the Novavax vaccine … And that’s showing very strong performance and quicker than we had thought.”
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