Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

BACKGROUND BRIEFING*: Tue 23 March 2021 at 09:30 AEDT ONLINE

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is making headlines around the world just as Australia begins rolling out the vaccine across the country. With locally produced vaccine expected to be available from next week, now is the perfect time to get your head around the vaccine. This AusSMC background briefing will bring together experts from AstraZeneca, along with an independent expert clinician-scientist, to answer any questions you might have. The aim of this briefing is not to generate news but to provide you with information and background to assist your ongoing reporting.

Speakers:

• Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca
• Liz Chatwin, Country President Australia &New Zealand, AstraZeneca
• Associate Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland, and clinical microbiologist.

Declaration: CSL, the local manufacturer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine, is a supporter of the Australian Science Media Centre and contributes ~1% of the Centre's budget. See all our supporters and read about our independence.

Paul Griffin is running a number of COVID-19 vaccine studies but none on the AstraZeneca Vaccine. He sits on a number of industry advisory board including AstraZeneca's.