The Morrison Government is claiming to have struck a deal with drug giant AstraZeneca to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine.

The promising vaccine is being developed by Oxford University researchers, and if it is proved safe to use, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australians will be among the first in the world to secure the jab.

“The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian,” Mr Morrison said this week.

“If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.

“However there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine.”

THe Prime Minister says local firm CSL will produce the vaccine in Australia.

But subsequent investigations suggest there is no such deal.

The Australian office of British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (which is producing the vaccine in the hope that it will be approved) says it has only received a letter of intent from the Australian Government.

The letter of intent “doesn’t go into any details about costs or numbers or anything”, according to an AstraZeneca spokesperson quoted by industry press Pharma In Focus.

The company said it needs an idea of manufacturing capacity - “a critical piece in the puzzle” - before any formal deal can be struck.

CSL’s CEO Paul Perreault says his company is “in discussions” with AstraZeneca and the Australian Government “to assess whether it’s possible to provide local manufacturing support for that vaccine”.