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Vaccine rollout gains 4 million extra Pfizer doses for September

Australia's vaccine rollout is set for a huge shot in the arm after Australia negotiated a deal to swap 4 million doses of Pfizer with the UK.

The extra doses are on their way to Australia and will significantly bolster September's Covid vaccine numbers, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"The plane is on the tarmac now. It will be leaving tomorrow," he said.

"Those doses will be coming over the course of the next few weeks, which will see us double the Pfizer doses that we have during September."

The extra doses will be allocated on a per capita basis. Source: AAP
The extra doses will be allocated on a per capita basis. Source: AAP

The deal will see urgent supply of Pfizer arrive in Australia as the federal government scrambles to overcome a slow start to the program while NSW's Delta outbreak rapidly worsens.

The extra doses announced in the deal should see millions of Australians emerge from lockdown sooner.

"This will enable us to bring forward significantly the opportunity for Australia to open up again under the national plan," Mr Morrison said.

The doses will be distributed across the states and territories on a per capita basis.

"To bring forward these doses I think should be a great cause for hope right around the country," the PM said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said vaccination coverage targets of 70 and 80 per cent were now within sight.

"The burden and balance of vaccination in Australia will have moved forward two months from October and November to August and September," he said.

Earlier in the week, Australia clinched a swap deal with Singapore for 500,000 Pfizer doses to be repaid in December. The latest deal with the UK will also see Australia return the favour in December.

Last month, Poland agreed to send one million doses to Australia.

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