The European Union has been accused of bullying and blasted as a total disgrace after blocking a shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines to Australia.
Authorities in Italy have drawn on controversial export laws for the first time, refusing to grant a licence for 250,000 doses manufactured in the country to be exported.
Officials in Rome had informed the EU of its intention to act last week and Brussels did not object to the move.
The batch was halted because of continuing shortage of vaccines in the EU and in Italy and delays in supplies from AstraZeneca to the EU and Italy, the Italian foreign ministry said in a statement.
EU BLOCKS shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia amid Covid vaccine chaos
Updated: 4 Mar 2021, 17:40
THE EU has blocked a shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca jabs destined for Australia amid the bloc’s Covid vaccine chaos.
The controversial move came after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its EU contract commitments, sources claim.
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The European Commission has blocked the export of AstraZeneca s vaccineCredit: AFP or licensors
A shipment of a quarter million AstraZeneca vaccines was to be sent to help Australia s coronavirus jab programme.
But health bosses there have been left in limbo after the delivery was barred from leaving the European Union.
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More stranded Australians will soon be able to return each fortnight with a quarantine facility in the Top End given the all clear to increase its capacity.
Capacity at the Howard Springs quarantine facility near Darwin will increase to 2,000 per fortnight up from 850, over the coming months.
The decision was made on Friday at a national cabinet meeting between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders.
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Chief nurse Alison McMillan recently travelled to the Howard Springs site to see what the capacity could be increased to.
Mr Morrison said the limits for other states would stay the same, with the federal government encouraging Victoria to accept international flights again.
Now France threatens to block vaccine shipments after Italy stopped 250,000 jabs going Down Under - as Australia swipes at desperate EU for not being in a good position like us
Olivier Veran, French health minister, has threatened to follow Italy s example and use EU laws to block vaccines from leaving the country
Veran said he could do the same if ministers rule the jabs are needed in France
Italy stopped 250,000 AstraZeneca jabs from going to Australia on Thursday
Move raised eyebrows Down Under, with finance minister branding the EU desperate and adding that he is disappointed and frustrated at the move
EU-Backed Block on Vaccine Shipment Won t Affect Australia s Rollout: Minister theepochtimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theepochtimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.