Health Minister Greg Hunt said the rollout was on track with about 80,000 doses to arrive in just days.
“The vaccines are scheduled to land in Australia before the end of the week, if not earlier,” he said.
Mr Hunt said security around the “most precious cargo” will be tight and the Therapeutic Goods Administration would be conducting safety checks.
“They will look to see that all of the vials are intact and haven’t had seals broken, and they will also do much testing as part of that,” he said.
“Some of that has been done in Europe. Additional tests will be done here in Australia. Our number one priority is safety, safety, safety.”
Mr Hunt said Australians wanted to know the vaccine was safe above anything else.
“We know from all of the research that what Australians want to know is that safety has been prioritised above all else,” he said.
“And if they know that what we believe to be the best medical regulator in the world has overseen a safe process working to a plan that is thorough and doesn’t cut corners, then confidence increases.
“And if confidence increases there’s an increase in uptake.”
The health minister said the first jabs would be done by the end of the month and the rollout would be overseen by both state and federal governments.
Mr Hunt said border and quarantine workers, frontline health workers, aged care residents and staff, and disability residents and staff would be first to receive the jab.
Those in the first phase of the vaccine rollout will be vaccinated within six weeks of it kicking off.
This content first appear on 9news