A vaccine manufacturing facility is set to be built at Monash University in Melbourne’s south-east as as part of a deal between the federal and Victorian governments.
The vaccine plant will be established by American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna, and is planned to be able to produce up to 100 million vaccine doses a year.
It will be Moderna’s only mRNA manufacturing and finishing centre in the Southern Hemisphere and will produce Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax, but will give Australia mRNA manufacturing capability in the event of a new pandemic, such as avian influenza.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has said he is “absolutely delighted” Melbourne had secured the facility.
“This is such an important day for our state, for our nation, and indeed, for the world,” he said.
The vaccine plant building is set to striking in appearance, with the exterior to be 85 per cent glass.
Moderna will also set up a headquarters and a Regional Research Centre in Victoria.