Government to help fund largest vaccine manufacturing plant in southern hemisphere

The Federal Government has entered into a billion-dollar deal to protect the nation against future pandemics.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is shown the CSL Lab where a COVID-19 Vaccine is being produced, Melbourne Source: AAP

The largest vaccine manufacturing plant in the southern hemisphere is to be built in Melbourne.

A new flu vaccine manufacturing plant is intended to guard Australians against future pandemics, providing long-term access to influenza and fever vaccines.

It will also provide antivenoms for some of Australia's most deadly creatures.

The federal government has struck a $1 billion, 12-year deal with a subsidiary of pharmaceutical company C-S-L, which was formerly the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories but privatised and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1994.

Scientists are seen at work inside of the CSL Biotech facility in Melbourne Source: AAP

The subsidiary company, Seqirus, is to invest $800 million to develop a hi-tech vaccine manufacturing facility near Melbourne airport to replace its more than 60-year-old Parkville site.

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