France, March 5 -- Australia's prime minister has played down the impact of Italy'sdecision to block the export of 250,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses. Italy explained the ban as necessary because of a shortage of vaccines in virus-hit Europe and the absence of urgent need in relatively virus-free Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted the blocked shipment of the AstraZeneca jabs was understandable and would not affect Australia's vaccine programme.

He expressed sympathy for Europe's plight against Covid-19 on social media.

"In Italy, people are dying at the rate of 300 a day. And so I can certainly understand the high level of anxiety that would exist in Italy and in many countries across Europe.

"They are in an unbridled crisi...