A United States biotechnology company has begun injecting a coronavirus vaccine candidate into people in Australia with hopes of releasing a proven vaccine this year, AP reported.

Novavax will inject 131 volunteers in the first phase of the trial testing the safety of the vaccine and looking for signs of its effectiveness, the company's research chief Dr Gregory Glenn said. Animal testing suggested the vaccine is effective in low doses.

Novavax could manufacture at least 100 million doses this year and 1.5 billion in 2021, he said.