Overview

• The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority granted national approval on September 10 for the University of the Sunshine Coast’s koala chlamydia vaccine.
• Researchers report the vaccine reduced disease and cut mortality in wild populations by up to 65% in published field studies.
• The shot is designed for a single administration, a key operational advantage because wild koalas are difficult to capture twice, according to lead researcher Peter Timms.
• Teams aim to launch broad vaccination programs in Queensland and New South Wales by the end of 2026, with additional resources and coordination still required.
• Chlamydial infection drives urinary, ocular and reproductive disease and contributes to the species’ 2022 ‘vulnerable’ listing, with the Australian Koala Foundation estimating at most about 60,000 animals remaining in the wild.