Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he is optimistic that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Australians by next year. The Health Minister could not name the companies the Government is in negotiations with but said he feels “cautiously optimistic” about the prospect of a vaccine. Shadow Health Minister Chris Bowen has criticised the Government saying Australia has fallen behind other countries in securing a vaccine deal; days after reports Russia has developed the world's first COVID-19 vaccine.