Italy blocks export of 250,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Australia

Row continues between EU and drug firm after shortfall in vaccine deliveries to bloc

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Italy has blocked the export of 250,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in an escalation of a row with the Anglo-Swedish company.

In the first such intervention under the EU's controversial export authorisation scheme, the Italian government ordered that the doses remain in the bloc with the backing of the European commission.