Resources for Journalists

Most British COVID-19 mourners suffer PTSD symptoms

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jul 2022 at 0950 AEST | 1150 NZST

British Journal of Guidance and Counselling

Counsellors in the UK should be alert to a broad band of pandemic-related psychological distress in people who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, and not concentrate solely ... The full paper, ‘Grief Read more about Most British COVID-19 mourners suffer PTSD symptoms

Spectacular success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines just a glimpse of their full potential

Publicly released: Mon 4 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

mRNA vaccine development will continue to accelerate, spurred on by the success of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and further improvements to the technology may mitigate some of the current limitations and Read more about Spectacular success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines just a glimpse of their full potential

EXPERT REACTION: Australia is about to reach 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 1530 AEST | 1730 NZST

COVID-19 deaths in Australia are expected to reach 10,000 in the coming week. ... Over three-quarters of these deaths have occurred in 2022, and we are only halfway through the year. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia is about to reach 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

Housing quality can have a big impact when you're working from home

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Cities

A survey of nearly 800 New Zealanders working from home shows their housing quality is linked to how well they can do their job during a COVID-19 lockdown. ... Things that helped people work effectively Read more about Housing quality can have a big impact when you're working from home

COVID-19 vaccine may work even if it doesn't reach the muscle

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0911 AEST | 1111 NZST

Vaccine

New research shows standard Covid-19 vaccination needles are too short to reach the muscle tissue in some people with larger arms. ... The authors say that because obesity is a major risk factor for Read more about COVID-19 vaccine may work even if it doesn't reach the muscle

No matter your weight, COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

Two or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation or death due to the virus no matter your weight, according to international researchers. ... Of these, 9,171,524 Read more about No matter your weight, COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness

'Extraordinary' drop in emissions during COVID-19 is what we need each year to limit warming to 1.5°C

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Geoscience

Carbon dioxide emissions fell 6. 3% during the first year of the COVID pandemic and experts say this extraordinary drop is the same size as what we need to see each ... The authors say this underscores Read more about 'Extraordinary' drop in emissions during COVID-19 is what we need each year to limit warming to 1.5°C

Stopping family violence starts with protecting our children

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 1425 AEST | 1625 NZST

An estimated 2. 2 million Australians have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 with 3. ... as the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about Stopping family violence starts with protecting our children

EXPERT REACTION: Pfizer cleared to apply for vaccine approval for under 5s

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 1313 AEST | 1513 NZST

The TGA has granted a provisional determination to Pfizer for its COVID-19 vaccine in kids aged six months to five years. ... Provisional determination is the first step in the registration process Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Pfizer cleared to apply for vaccine approval for under 5s

Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

The BMJ

A review of 18 existing studies indicates that airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from an infectious individual to others located more than two metres away can happen in ... Since the early Read more about Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

The researchers matched 130,000 recently vaccinated children with 95,000 unvaccinated controls during Israel's Omicron wave, and say one to three weeks after vaccination, protection against infection Read more about Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Despite difficulties in estimating the overall prevalence of symptoms, the most commonly reported neurologic symptoms in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 are fatigue in 33%, sleep Read more about Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

$79m in funding for NZ health research

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Developing non-addictive drug compounds to treat pain, reducing the burden of osteoarthritis, and investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Māori/non-Māori inequities are among the projects to be Read more about $79m in funding for NZ health research

COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

3 million COVID-19 infections in the US before vaccines were available, according to a modelling study by international researchers. ... Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on US SARS Read more about COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

8% and 17% of COVID-19 patients, with between 1. 2% and 4. ... To investigate instances of long COVID, Ellen Thompson and colleagues used data from 6,907 individuals with self-reported COVID-19 from ten Read more about Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Northern Queensland may be on the road to recovery from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impacts of the virus have been put into sharp focus in a ... Many communities that avoided the first Read more about Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain

Cheers! Here’s to the health-conscious youth: an untapped drinks market for restaurants

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jun 2022 at 1500 AEST | 1700 NZST

PLOS ONE

Conducted by the University of South Australia, Flinders University and the University of Otago, the study showed that 27 per cent of consumers would pay nearly double the price for ‘healthy’ Read more about Cheers! Here’s to the health-conscious youth: an untapped drinks market for restaurants

COVID-19 vaccine booster dose protects against Omicron severe disease

Publicly released: Tue 28 Jun 2022 at 1330 AEST | 1530 NZST

The Lancet preprints

The study findings confirm that the COVID-19 vaccine schedule used in Australia protects against severe disease from Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... This Australian study is an important addition to the Read more about COVID-19 vaccine booster dose protects against Omicron severe disease

More deaths were seen in hospitals during Australia's 3rd COVID-19 wave

Publicly released: Mon 27 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

The fact SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was more virulent than earlier strains and therefore more likely to cause severe disease requiring intensive care, was one explanation, according to the authors. Read more about More deaths were seen in hospitals during Australia's 3rd COVID-19 wave

A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Publicly released: Mon 27 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

For the 118 participants who underwent second eye surgery and participated in all follow-up visits, age- and sex-adjusted incidence before (0. ... The problem has been exacerbated by deferral of elective Read more about A shorter wait for cataract surgery could prevent injuries from falls

Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

Lancet Infectious Diseases

of COVID-19 and from the other major diseases that continue to disproportionately affect the poorest. ... lives by the unprecedented rapidity of development and roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines is an Read more about Modelling suggests COVID-19 vaccines prevented 20 million deaths worldwide in first year

COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Publicly released: Fri 24 Jun 2022 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Aussie scientists used survey data from 2065 participants to investigate the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on loneliness in Australia. ... The authors conclude that COVID-19 has increased potential Read more about COVID-19 widened Australia's 'loneliness gap'

Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

This is supported by approximately one third of children with positive COVID-19 tests experiencing symptoms that were not present before the SARS-CoV-2 infection. ... frequent in children who had been Read more about Long COVID symptoms reported in kids under 14

Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 1100 AEST | 1300 NZST

Tourism Management

A shift in thinking  Dr Wen said COVID-19’s impact on travel in recent years had raised questions about tourism’s value beyond lifestyle and economic factors. ... So, after COVID, it’s a good time Read more about Could going on holiday be a treatment for dementia?

Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Publicly released: Thu 23 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Social media became the home of an "infodemic" of misinformation during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and international researchers have tracked how users with tweets using the hashtags "Scamdemic" and Read more about Hashtag plandemic - how COVID misinformation spread on twitter

Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 1701 AEST | 1901 NZST

Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports

Online classes during COVID lockdowns may have helped students' mental health according to a Japanese study. ... Do online classes during school closures impact students’ mental health? New research Read more about Online classes during COVID lockdowns helped students' mental health

Could your activity tracker tell if you're about to develop COVID-19 symptoms?

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

They all took regular rapid antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection. ... COVID-19 symptoms lasted an average of 8. 5 days. Using machine learning, an algorithm was Read more about Could your activity tracker tell if you're about to develop COVID-19 symptoms?

Inability to stand on one leg later in life linked to near doubling of death risk

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST | 1030 NZST

British Journal of Sports Medicine

During an average monitoring period of 7 years, 123 (7%) people died: cancer (32%); cardiovascular disease (30%); respiratory disease (9%); and COVID-19 complications (7%). ... And information on Read more about Inability to stand on one leg later in life linked to near doubling of death risk

NZ’s true ethnic disparities in Covid vaccine coverage remain unclear

Publicly released: Wed 22 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

New Zealand researchers have delved into COVID-19 vaccine coverage by ethnicity, finding that different ways of calculating the population size of each ethnic group - i. ... The authors say that although Read more about NZ’s true ethnic disparities in Covid vaccine coverage remain unclear

Women 22% more likely to suffer with long COVID than men

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 1401 AEST | 1601 NZST

Current Medical Research and Opinion

As part of the review, researchers restricted their search of academic papers to those published between December 2019–August 2020 for COVID-19 and to January 2020–June 2021 for Long ... Therefore, Read more about Women 22% more likely to suffer with long COVID than men

EXPERT REACTION: Conversations may spread COVID-19 more than previously thought

Publicly released: Tue 21 Jun 2022 at 1128 AEST | 1328 NZST

PNAS

dominant portion of speech-generated aerosols with diameters between 5 and 20 microns; the findings indicate that many SARS-CoV-2 aerosols remain airborne for minutes rather than hours and, if Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Conversations may spread COVID-19 more than previously thought

5-minute record for diagnosis

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 1600 AEST | 1800 NZST

Angewandte Chemie

An accessible universal solution to offer on-the-spot personalised bedside testing for infectious diseases including flu and COVID-19 – or diagnosis and delivery of targeted treatments for other Read more about 5-minute record for diagnosis

Aussie COVID-19 cases higher than reported

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0600 AEST | 0800 NZST

It is estimated that by the end of February 2022 at least 17% of the Australian adult population had recently been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes ... Adults aged 18–29 years had the Read more about Aussie COVID-19 cases higher than reported

How do we better prepare our health system for times of disaster?

Publicly released: Mon 20 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

Vardoulakis and colleagues pointed out that health professionals have responded heroically to COVID-19, bushfires and floods over the past 2 years “but it is not sustainable in the long run”. Read more about How do we better prepare our health system for times of disaster?

WHO urges mental health action

Publicly released: Fri 17 Jun 2022 at 1039 AEST | 1239 NZST

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, just a small fraction of people in need had access to effective, affordable and quality mental health care. ... But change is not happening fast enough, and the story of Read more about WHO urges mental health action

Weighing the cost of increasing Saudi heritage tourism

Publicly released: Thu 16 Jun 2022 at 1433 AEST | 1633 NZST

Journal of Heritage Tourism

a few weeks before international travel bans due to COVID-19 were implemented. ... start reviving their business operations after COVID-19’s enforced disruptions. Read more about Weighing the cost of increasing Saudi heritage tourism

Time to rebuild construction

Publicly released: Thu 16 Jun 2022 at 1340 AEST | 1540 NZST

Sustainability

post-COVID-19 period to meet shortage and reduce the cost of construction;· Find novel solutions to global material shortages including recycling, sourcing raw materials more sustainably, and using Read more about Time to rebuild construction

Boosters or previous COVID-19 infection are needed to prevent symptomatic Omicron

Publicly released: Thu 16 Jun 2022 at 0700 AEST | 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has a negligible effect on the risk of symptomatic Omicron but previous infections and booster doses change this, according to international research. Read more about Boosters or previous COVID-19 infection are needed to prevent symptomatic Omicron

Home injuries up during COVID-19 lockdowns

Publicly released: Thu 16 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Adrian Webster (PhD). ‘COVID-19 restrictions contributed to a decrease in injury-related hospitalisations in the early months of 2020, with 14% fewer admissions between March and May compared with Read more about Home injuries up during COVID-19 lockdowns

Older Australians need more financial support amid pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 15 Jun 2022 at 1127 AEST | 1327 NZST

Conducted in partnership with RMIT, COTA and ECH, and funded by Ecstra Foundation, the report explores the financial behaviours, psychological wellbeing and financial decision-making of 1500 older Read more about Older Australians need more financial support amid pandemic

At least one in 500 children estimated to have caught COVID-19 in pandemic's first year

Publicly released: Mon 13 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were detected in seven children (5–9 years, one; 10–19 years, six): three in Victoria, three in New South Wales, one in Queensland; three specimens ... The crude Read more about At least one in 500 children estimated to have caught COVID-19 in pandemic's first year

Investing 1% of the world's GDP in a green recovery could reduce global emissions 8.5% by 2030

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 1011 AEST | 1211 NZST

Frontiers in Climate

Main Text: The Covid-19 pandemic not only caused a global health and economic crisis but also significantly reduced global CO2 emissions in 2020 by 6 to 7%, compared to 2019. ... Reduction of CO2 Read more about Investing 1% of the world's GDP in a green recovery could reduce global emissions 8.5% by 2030

COVID-19 during pregnancy could impact baby’s development later on

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 0945 AEST | 1145 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Early evidence has found that babies born to mothers that had a COVID-19 infection while pregnant in 2020 were more likely to receive a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in the first year ... Most of these Read more about COVID-19 during pregnancy could impact baby’s development later on

The pandemic’s impact on lung cancer diagnoses for Māori

Publicly released: Fri 10 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

occur - not just in the context of Covid-19. ... Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency has been monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on access to cancer services since the start of the pandemic. Read more about The pandemic’s impact on lung cancer diagnoses for Māori

Fewer than 1-in-2 frontline healthcare workers say they had formal PPE training when COVID-19 hit

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 1615 AEST | 1815 NZST

PLOS ONE

One in five healthcare workers received no training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when COVID-19 hit and less than one in two received formal training in the ... The participants also Read more about Fewer than 1-in-2 frontline healthcare workers say they had formal PPE training when COVID-19 hit

Probiotics didn’t reduce uni test stress, but lockdown had an unexpected effect

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 1121 AEST | 1321 NZST

PLOS One

They found no difference between the probiotic and a placebo, but highlight that overall student stress levels actually went down right before exams. ... The team says NZ’s COVID-19 lockdown went from Read more about Probiotics didn’t reduce uni test stress, but lockdown had an unexpected effect

Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST | 1101 NZST

Amid worsening global disruptions to food and fertiliser supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s essential resources is under threat. ... from households, retail Read more about Hidden casualty of Russia’s war: global phosphorus security

Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0800 AEST | 1000 NZST

Immunity

Published in Immunity, the study is among the first to analyse the immune response of children following infection with SARS-CoV-2, using new technologies and a group of more than ... Study senior author Read more about Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era

Publicly released: Thu 9 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST | 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare condition found in children after COVID-19 infection, has become even more rare in the Omicron era, according to Danish data. ... They say the rates of MIC Read more about Post-COVID-19 condition rarer in children during Omicron era