Normal procedures were "telescoped", not ignored, meaning phase 1 clinical trials were on going when phase 2 trials began and phase 3 clinical trials were begun even before the data from phase 1 trials was compiled. Normally these phases are done in sequence, but they were collapsed, no corners were cut, but risks were taken with informed volunteers. A million new cases in America in the past 6 days and over 3100 deaths daily, so the risks are justified and with mRNA vaccines minimized, they are very specific and you are not messing with another organisms genome like with many traditional vaccines.
If Australia is covid free as is NZ, so wait awhile by all means, but if you want to reopen your economy with international trade and exchange again...