Resources for Journalists

EXPERT REACTION: Covid vaccine linked to smaller risk of heart problems in children than Covid infection

Publicly released: Wed 5 Nov 2025 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

In the six months after Covid-19 infection, children have a higher risk of developing rare and serious heart inflammation, but the Covid vaccine does not have the same effect, according ... They say the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Covid vaccine linked to smaller risk of heart problems in children than Covid infection

Australia's public health spending is coming down to pre-pandemic levels

Publicly released: Wed 5 Nov 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

which found this decrease brought spending back in line with trends from before the COVID-19 pandemic. ... from 2019–20, mainly driven by government spending on the COVID-19 response. Read more about Australia's public health spending is coming down to pre-pandemic levels

Celebrating the 26th Prime Minister's Prizes for Science

Publicly released: Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 2131 AEDT, 2331 NZDT

These outcomes have guided drug development for malaria and vaccine policies for COVID-19 and mpox. ... I congratulate and thank Professor Morawska for her incredible work over many years which influenced Read more about Celebrating the 26th Prime Minister's Prizes for Science

Serious mental illnesses linked to higher long COVID risk

Publicly released: Thu 30 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or recurrent major depressive disorder face a higher risk of prolonged COVID-19 symptoms after getting the virus, according to international research. Read more about Serious mental illnesses linked to higher long COVID risk

Simple saliva test could revolutionise heart failure detection

Publicly released: Wed 29 Oct 2025 at 1346 AEDT, 1546 NZDT

Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X

This synthetic biology approach is faster and cheaper than traditional methods, and the same technique can be used to detect different diseases by simply changing the target biomarker. ... Co author Dr Read more about Simple saliva test could revolutionise heart failure detection

Cancer still the disease costing Australia the most

Publicly released: Wed 29 Oct 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

3% on a per person basis. This can be attributed to modest health spending growth and a sharp rise in population following the COVID-19 pandemic. ... 5% to $89. 1 billion, mainly due to lower government Read more about Cancer still the disease costing Australia the most

How are the newest crop of COVID-19 vaccines holding up?

Publicly released: Tue 28 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Updated formulas for the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines appear to have similar effectiveness against the variants circulating in late 2024-early 2025, according to US research. Read more about How are the newest crop of COVID-19 vaccines holding up?

EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 vaccine may help people with cancer fight their disease

Publicly released: Thu 23 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Nature

Patients with advanced lung or skin cancer who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy drugs lived significantly longer than those who did not get the ... 6 months to 37. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: COVID-19 vaccine may help people with cancer fight their disease

Colchicine doesn't seem to help with long COVID

Publicly released: Tue 21 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Colchicine is not an effective treatment for long COVID, according to Aussie and international research which says we need to explore other therapies. ... These findings underscore the need to explore Read more about Colchicine doesn't seem to help with long COVID

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe during early pregnancy

Publicly released: Thu 16 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The authors say their findings align with previous research and further reinforce the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. ... First-Trimester mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination and Risk of Major Read more about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe during early pregnancy

Over a million Aussie households experiencing housing stress

Publicly released: Thu 16 Oct 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

4% in June 2025. ‘After the largest monthly fall on record in employment in April 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s labour force has rebounded, with ... COVID-19 pandemic (25% Read more about Over a million Aussie households experiencing housing stress

Australia’s first national report on indoor air quality reveals urgent need for action

Publicly released: Tue 14 Oct 2025 at 1112 AEDT, 1312 NZDT

Professor Morawska, who was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people for her work on airborne transmission of COVID-19, leads the THRIVE Centre and is an Australian ... We need Read more about Australia’s first national report on indoor air quality reveals urgent need for action

COVID-19 causes changes in sperm that lead to increased anxiety in mice offspring

Publicly released: Sat 11 Oct 2025 at 2000 AEDT, 2200 NZDT

Nature Communications

A Florey study in mice has found that offspring conceived after a father has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and developed COVID-19 symptoms have higher levels of ... While more research is needed, Read more about COVID-19 causes changes in sperm that lead to increased anxiety in mice offspring

Do air purifiers in classrooms help kids avoid a lurgy?

Publicly released: Sat 11 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

US and Korean researchers say high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers in our kids' classrooms do not actually reduce how many viruses they are exposed to. ... The researchers looked at the Read more about Do air purifiers in classrooms help kids avoid a lurgy?

Kids may be more likely to develop long COVID after a second infection

Publicly released: Wed 1 Oct 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1130 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Researchers compared health outcomes following children’s first and second documented COVID-19 infections to isolate the risks associated with reinfection. ... They say the study’s findings reinforce Read more about Kids may be more likely to develop long COVID after a second infection

Popular type of yoga linked to higher rates of falls among older Australians

Publicly released: Tue 30 Sep 2025 at 1616 AEST, 1916 NZDT

Lancet Healthy Longevity

Carrying out the studyThe research team recruited 700 people aged 60 and over who did not currently practise yoga. ... to run the classes in person but, because the study took place during COVID-19, we Read more about Popular type of yoga linked to higher rates of falls among older Australians

Switch to 2-in-1 inhalers reduces children's asthma attacks

Publicly released: Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 1500 AEST, 1800 NZDT

The Lancet

However, the authors acknowledge some limitations of the clinical trial. It was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which stringent public health measures and fewer circulating Read more about Switch to 2-in-1 inhalers reduces children's asthma attacks

Low-cost drug shows promise for patients with life-threatening respiratory infections

Publicly released: Sun 28 Sep 2025 at 0930 AEST, 1230 NZDT

eClinicalMedicine

A widely available and affordable drug has shown to be effective in treating seriously ill COVID-19 patients, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU). ... We know it’s Read more about Low-cost drug shows promise for patients with life-threatening respiratory infections

Coordinated action needed to reverse Australia’s declining childhood vaccination rates

Publicly released: Fri 26 Sep 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Childhood vaccination rates have declined each year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The power and reach of social media, the challenges raised by COVID-19 and misinformation around Read more about Coordinated action needed to reverse Australia’s declining childhood vaccination rates

Unlocking the immune system’s instruction manual

Publicly released: Wed 24 Sep 2025 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Nature Immunology

These tissues included tonsil, adenoid and blood from multiple cohorts, allowing researchers to track Tfh cells across different tissue types and timepoints – including during COVID infection and Read more about Unlocking the immune system’s instruction manual