“A historic vaccine to strengthen protection of koalas against chlamydia has been developed by researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Centre for Bioinnovation, with funding from the Albanese Government. The single-dose vaccine will combat the threat of chlamydia which can cause painful urinary tract infections, infertility, blindness and death in koala populations.”
“Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast have spent more than 10 years developing the single-dose vaccine to protect koalas from the disease. Trials were conducted on hundreds of wild koalas, koalas in care, and over multiple generations. Development of the vaccine is supported by $749,000 in funding from the Albanese Government’s $76 million Saving Koalas Fund. The vaccine has now been registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority,” says Australia’s Ministry for the Environment and Water in a statement announcing the new initiative.
Lots to work with here given the silliness of the premise of koalas suffering from a sailor STD and the very obvious contrast with current US public health policy that may or may not start warning to avoid travel to Australia because koalas can cause autism. However the main takeaway should be that the man leading said US public health policy is probably pretty bummed that he can’t ever travel there to try grilling and eating a roadkilled koala for fear of it might’ve been vaxxed.