Australia buys additional 1 mln doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine

Canberra: Australia has purchased an additional 1 million doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine from the European Union, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, as the country accelerates its inoculation programme to fight record high infections.

The purchase is a boost for Australia's A$2 trillion ($1.5 trillion) economy, which is at risk of slipping into its second recession in as many years as a result of lockdowns of the country's two most populous cities, Sydney and Melbourne. These lockdowns will remain until 70% of the country's near 26 million population are fully vaccinated, which is not expected until late October.