At first, reports of an approach by the US president to secure “exclusive” access to a coronavirus vaccine were received with scepticism.

As the major Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica noted, if true, Donald Trump’s bid to lure a German pharmaceutical company to the US was “a filthy proposal in times of pandemic”.

Now German health officials have confirmed the story, which ran in the Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

The story quoted an anonymous German government source saying that Trump had offered as much as one billion Euros to secure a COVID-19 vaccine for the United States, “but only for the US”.

When contacted by Reuters, a spokeswoman for the German Health Ministry told the international news wire service: “We confirm the report in the Welt am Sonntag.”

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The company in question is CureVac, one of several at the forefront of research into finding a coronavirus vaccine.

Based in the southwest city of Tuebingen, the privately owned company announced earlier this month it was hoping to have an experimental vaccine ready by June or July.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump in bilateral talks at the G7 summit last August. Credit: Getty

The unnamed German government official told Welt the US president was trying to lure CureVac to the US, in a bid to secure exclusive access to the researchers’ work.

“Trump will do anything to get a vaccine for the United States, but only for the United States,” he was reported saying.

Germany’s Health Ministry later confirmed Trump had offered funds to lure CureVac to the US, CNBC reported, and said the German government was making counter-offers to ensure it stayed.

The story has prompted considerable outrage in Germany, with public figures saying no country should have a monopoly on any future vaccine.

One of CureVac’s biggest investors issued a statement on Sunday saying: “We want to develop a vaccine for the whole world and not individual countries.”

‘Germany not for sale’

There are more the 3,770 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, with the nation’s capital alone, Washington DC, recording 42 deaths so far.

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Social Democrats politician Karl Lauterbach, who is also a professor of health economics and epidemiology, tweeted: “The exclusive sale of a possible vaccine to the USA must be prevented by all means. Capitalism has limits.”

And Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, told German public television: “Germany is not for sale.”

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Reuters said it was unable to get a response from the US embassy in Berlin and was still waiting for comment from the White House.

CureVac itself has refused to comment.

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause a range of symptoms including a runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever. Some are mild, such as the common cold, while others are more likely to lead to pneumonia.

The latest strain was discovered in the Chinese province of Wuhan.

How do you get coronavirus?

China says the virus is mutating and can be transmitted through human contact.

It’s primarily spread through a sick person coughing or sneezing on someone but a person could also become infected through contact with the virus particles on a surface, NSW Health warns.

What are coronavirus symptoms?

Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Most of those affected are older people and those with underlying health conditions.

How dangerous is the coronavirus?

The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people.

How do you treat coronavirus?

As it stands, there is no vaccine for the virus and, because it is new, humans have not been able to build immunity to it.

A group of Melbourne researchers have been tasked with finding a vaccine, while China is testing the HIV drug Aluvia as a treatment.

Where can I find further information on coronavirus?

There is a coronavirus hotline, 1800 020 080

The Coronavirus Health Information Line operates 24/7.

The Federal Government’s Health Department also has a dedicated coronavirus page on its website.

How do I protect myself from coronavirus?

WHO’s standard recommendations: