Melbourne will see a new high-tech vaccine manufacturing plant in a billion-dollar deal to secure the nation’s long-term supply of critical health products including influenza vaccines and life-saving anti-venoms.
The complex at Tullamarine will be the largest influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the southern hemisphere, allowing Australia to rapidly respond to flu outbreaks and pandemics.
It will replace the existing CSL owned facility in inner-city Parkville.
The federal government will sign a $1 billion agreement with Seqirus, the influenza vaccines arm of CSL, to secure supply until 2036 of medical products that would otherwise need to be sourced from overseas.
The $1 billion in funding is for a 10 year deal for the supply of vaccines across the Australian population to protect against future flu pandemics (not the COVID-19 pandemic).
It will also secure supply for products like anti-venoms for deadly Australian creatures including snakes and spiders.
Seqirus will invest $800 million in building its new facility at Melbourne Airport Business Park, to replace the Parkville facility.
