The Australian government today cancelled an order for a new coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Queensland after clinical trials showed difficulties and several subjects tested pseudo-positive for HIV in preliminary tests.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the results prompted the Australian government to abandon the purchase of the vaccine developed by the University of Queensland and instead purchase additional vaccines from Astellicom and Novavax.
“Based on scientific advice, the UQ vaccine trial will not go ahead and will not be the mainstay of the Australian vaccine program,” he said.
Chief health officer Brendan Murphy said that although the vaccine showed potential in suppressing the new coronavirus and there was no risk of HIV transmission, the shelving of the program was based on fears that the public would lose confidence in the vaccine.
University of Queensland professor Paul Young insisted that the HIV protein used in the vaccine was “completely harmless” and posed no health risk to participants in the trial.
The Australian government said today’s announcement would not alter plans for other vaccines to be launched from March next year.
Australia has a population of 25 million, with 28,000 people infected and about 900 dead so far.
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