Coronavirus Vaccine

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:43): My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on the progress of the development of a vaccine for COVID-19?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:43): I would like to thank the honourable member for his question. It has now been 152 days since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in South Australia. Since that time, South Australia has successfully flattened the curve and suppressed the virus to this point. The high levels of compliance by individuals, businesses and communities with public health advice have enabled us to ease business and community restrictions earlier than originally expected.

Today we marked yet another important milestone in the South Australian response to the pandemic with the beginning of the first trial of an Australian-made vaccine in Adelaide. Today human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine commenced at PARC Clinical Research at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. PARC is a University of Adelaide research group conducting specialised research into multiple disciplines. This national project has brought together some of South Australia's best and brightest researchers and scientists to tackle the challenge of finding a vaccine head on. Significantly, this trial is being supported by the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and SA Pathology.

Stage 1 of the trials will involve 40 pre-screened participants. These participants will receive two doses of vaccine over the trial, with a three-week gap between the doses. So far, the vaccine has shown promising results during animal trials. Two weeks after the final dose of the vaccine, development of immune responses and antibodies will be identified. This should allow results of the first trial to become available in approximately two months' time.

Once again, during this pandemic South Australians are stepping up to assist in the mission to find a vaccine, which could find the permanent solution the world so desperately needs. This government is supporting the research teams. We are determined to build South Australia's capacity for clinical research. We believe there is great potential for our biomedical precincts to attract national and international researchers, making our state an economic and health hub. Trials such as the one that began today are yet another example of South Australian medical research, which is world leading.