The Italian Government has blocked the export of 250,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Australia. This decision represents the first application of the newly enacted EU transparency and authorization mechanism for exports of COVID-19 vaccines provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/111 of January 29, 2021. This mechanism establishes that, until March 31, 2021, exports of COVID-19 vaccines are subject to the prior authorization by the Member State where products are manufactured with the purpose…