Here’s A Quick Explainer On What’s Happening With AstraZeneca, Which Is *Not* Getting Suspended

Australia has no plans to “suspend” production of AstraZeneca, despite what you may have seen in the media overnight.

In a report published on Wednesday, 9 News asserted that “the vaccine will no longer be made here — the safe and effective jab finally succumbing to the scare campaign.”

“It’s the beginning of the end for Australian-made vaccines, with production of AstraZeneca to be suspended by Christmas,” the report claimed.

It's the beginning of the end for Australian-made vaccines, with production of AstraZeneca to be suspended by Christmas.#9News can reveal the vaccine will no longer be made here – the safe and effective jab finally succumbing to the scare campaign.@cokeefe9 has the details. pic.twitter.com/hBANMB7vQz

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) October 13, 2021

“Obviously we don’t want to manufacture something that’s not going to be utilised, and we will have a number of options moving into the future,” University of Queensland Associate Professor Paul Griffin told Nine, asserting that popularity for Pfizer and Moderna rendered AstraZeneca production unnecessary.

“It obviously has received a lot of negative press and it’s a vaccine that has proven highly effective and very safe.”

However, just hours after the initial report first aired, both CSL (the manufacturer of AstraZeneca in Australia) and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt have refuted the claims.

What Does The Australian Government Have To Say?

Following Wednesday’s 9 News report, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt clarified the government’s expectations that the AstraZeneca agreement to deliver all 50 million Australian-manufactured doses will be completed in full.

“In terms of AstraZeneca, I’ve spoken with the chair of CSL, Brian McNamee, today, and have been engaging with Liz Chapman, who’s the Australian CEO of AstraZeneca — both have confirmed that CSL and AstraZeneca are on track to complete the full 50 million-dose production run in Australia and the 3.8 million supply from overseas. So, 53.8 million AstraZeneca doses,” Hunt said in a press conference on Thursday.

“So, our expectation and our plan is that that program will be completed in full. And all of those extra doses are being supplied to the region. So, Fiji has very much built its vaccination program with the support of Australian AstraZeneca. It’s made a huge difference there.

“All of these items are coming together and we’ll continue to support them both directly with our AstraZeneca, which I’m really pleased to be able to say — the confirmation I’ve had to day — is on track for delivery in full.”

What Did CSL Say?

In a statement provided on the CSL website on Thursday morning, the manufacturer confirmed its commitment to fulfilling the order — effectively confirming that there are no plans to suspend production.

“CSL is committed to the manufacture of approximately 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria. Already over 20 million doses have been produced to protect Australians and those in the Asia Pacific region, and it is expected that the remaining production will be completed early next year,” the statement read. “CSL and Seqirus are proud of the role they have played in providing Australia with onshore vaccine manufacturing capability throughout the pandemic.”

The statement comes after CSL Chair Brian McNamee discussed the partnership in the company’s Annual General Meeting earlier this week.

“We are pleased to say that the Australian Government and AstraZeneca trusted us as their partners to help the country respond to the emerging crisis through the most effective solution available: vaccination,” McNamee said.

What Did AstraZeneca Say?

AstraZeneca — AKA the drug company, not the manufacturer — has also echoed a similar sentiment in a statement today. “AstraZeneca remains committed to fulfilling our contractual agreements to supply 53.8 million doses of Vaxzevria [AstraZeneca], with the majority manufactured locally at CSL facilities in Melbourne,” the statement read.

“In line with this agreement, the production of the CSL-made vaccines will continue into 2022.”

So… Everyone With A Stake In This Has Confirmed It’s Going Ahead As Normal?

Yes. The drug company, the manufacturer and our own Federal Health Minister have confirmed, on record, that the order is being fulfilled as normal.

What Happens After The Order Is Filled?

There is no indication that the Federal Government will make further deals with CSL for AstraZeneca production in Australia following the completion of this order.

This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the AstraZeneca currently being produced in Australia — which has ATAGI approval and is perfectly safe. It simply means it likely won’t be in the Australian Government’s best interest to pay for further doses.

This is not new information, and has been the case since the start of this contractual agreement. If it weren’t for the recent media coverage, this contract would’ve come to an end quietly and most of us would’ve continued our normal lives with no clue it even happened.

Is AstraZeneca Safe?

AstraZeneca has been approved by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for anyone over the age of 60 — and for anyone over 18 who doesn’t have immediate access to Pfizer or Moderna.

To put it simply, the advice is: the best vaccine you can get is the one you can get right now. There is a very small risk of Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) — aka blood clots — associated with AstraZeneca, but there has only been 69 confirmed cases of this in Australia out of 9.6 million doses.

However, it truly cannot be stressed enough that AstraZeneca has been throughly vetted by ATAGI, and has been deemed safe for use in Australia. Despite a lot of fear mongering in the media, and online, since the start of the vaccine rollout, AstraZeneca remains a safe and effective vaccine for Australians.

So… This Whole Report About AstraZeneca Being Suspended Was Just Kinda… Nothing?

Yeah, basically.