Australia's first shipment of coronavirus vaccines has been formally approved and will arrive in the country within weeks.
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The European Union has formally approved the export of vaccines to 23 countries including Australia.
The confirmation comes after the EU ambassador to Canberra insisted export restrictions would not affect Australia's first order of the Pfizer vaccine.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan says the jabs will start being administered within weeks.
"It is great news and they'll arrive towards the end of February and we are absolutely on track to roll our vaccine program out," he told Nine on Thursday.
"I met with the European Union ambassador last week and he assured me that the vaccines would be arriving as they said they would be.
"It's fantastic to get this extra further news that that's the case and that the vaccine rollout will take place as scheduled."
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Australians - particularly Victorians - have been hoping for a quick vaccine after a number of outbreaks, including the current Holiday Inn cluster, have residents on edge.
Australia is relying on 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which are being produced within Europe.
There were fears the order could be jeopardised after the EU placed export controls on vaccines produced in its territory, worried about its own supplies.
But ambassador Michael Pulch this week promised Europe would not delay or block the Australian order.
There is still no confirmed date for when the shipment will leave Europe or when it will arrive in Australia.
- AAP
