Italy and EU block AstraZeneca vaccine exports to Australia

The move came at the behest of Italy, which has been taking a tough line in dealing with vaccine shortages

A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine. File Picture: Andreas Arnold/dpa via AP

A shipment of a quarter-of-a-million AstraZeneca vaccines destined for Australia has been blocked from leaving the European Union in the first use of an export control system instituted by the bloc more than a month ago.

An unnamed EU official confirmed a report that first appeared in the Financial Times.