Credit: University of the Sunshine CoastThe first vaccine to prevent chlamydia infections in koalas has been approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Credit: University of the Sunshine CoastCurrently, koalas with chlamydia are treated with antibiotics – chloramphenicol or doxycycline. After a decade of work and several trials, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine was confirmed last year in the npj Vaccines study. “The vaccine has been trialled on hundreds of wild koalas, others in captivity and wildlife hospitals, and over multiple generations. “Three are the proteins of chlamydia, designed to cover the different strains of chlamydia circulating in different parts of the country,” says Timms.