Scott Morrison expects a successful coronavirus vaccine would be mandatory in Australia

Australians are likely to face mandatory coronavirus vaccinations if Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets his wish.

The nation is a step closer to gaining access to a vaccine, with the Federal Government securing an international deal to produce a vaccine frontrunner locally if trials succeed.

If that happens, Mr Morrison expects Australians will have to undergo mandatory vaccination.

"I would expect it to be as mandatory as you could possibly make it," he told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

"There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis.," hey says.

The Government has signed an agreement with UK-based drug company AstraZeneca to secure the potential COVID-19 vaccine, being developed by Oxford University.

If the vaccine clears trials, the Federal Government would manufacture it and make it free for all Australians.

But that's unlikely to be until next year at the earliest, Mr Morrison said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-19/morrison-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-mandatory/12572992