Resources for Journalists

Blood cancer patients who don't respond to two vaccines can respond to a booster

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jul 2022 at 1701 AEST, 1901 NZST

Cancer

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in the blood of 181 patients (48%) after initial vaccination with one of three U. ... Tixagevimab and cilgavimab are antibody therapies that bind to Read more about Blood cancer patients who don't respond to two vaccines can respond to a booster

How many Aussies had a short term reaction to their first two COVID-19 vaccines?

Publicly released: Mon 11 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

SAFETY REPORTS IN FOR PFIZER AND ASTRAZENECA VACCINESEMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01am Monday 11 July 2022ACTIVE surveillance by AusVaxSafety has confirmed the short-term safety of the COVID-19 vaccines Read more about How many Aussies had a short term reaction to their first two COVID-19 vaccines?

EXPERT REACTION: 1 in 5 people rely on wild species for income and food

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jul 2022 at 2130 AEST, 2330 NZST

Tourism, based on observing wild species, is one of the main reasons that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, protected areas globally received 8 billion visitors and generated US$600 billion every Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 1 in 5 people rely on wild species for income and food

Wastewater testing could give us quicker warnings of new COVID-19 variants

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Infectious disease: Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 monitoring reveals early variant transmission Related documents (1) Wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 genomic material can detect changes in the Read more about Wastewater testing could give us quicker warnings of new COVID-19 variants

EXPERT REACTION: 4th dose COVID boosters for the over 30s

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 1549 AEST, 1749 NZST

Australians over the age of 30 will soon be eligible for a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as next week, Health Minister Mark Butler has announced. ... ATAGI specifically recommended people Read more about EXPERT REACTION: 4th dose COVID boosters for the over 30s

Not much COVID-19 appears to have gone undetected in Melbourne's second wave

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Testing and tracing was able to pick up most of the COVID-19 circulating in the Melbourne community during the city's second wave in the winter of 2020, according to ... The team tested blood samples from Read more about Not much COVID-19 appears to have gone undetected in Melbourne's second wave

In less than a year, COVID-19 vaccines may have saved 235,000 lives in the US alone

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The team used computer modelling to estimate the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths prevented by vaccination. ... Estimated Number of COVID-19 Infections, Hospitalizations, Deaths Read more about In less than a year, COVID-19 vaccines may have saved 235,000 lives in the US alone

Aussie health report card shows almost half of us have a chronic health condition

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

This has shown that, despite a rise in the use of mental health services and an increase in psychological distress, COVID-19 has not been associated with a rise in suspected ... This measure includes both Read more about Aussie health report card shows almost half of us have a chronic health condition

Hospital readmissions for asthma on the rise among children

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Asthma

2 per cent. Of the 767 participants, 20. 6 per cent were readmitted once and 13. ... Dr Chen said there had also been a recent spike in asthma admissions due to the rise in respiratory infections and Read more about Hospital readmissions for asthma on the rise among children

What was it like to be an elite athlete stuck in a COVID-19 hub?

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jul 2022 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

PLOS ONE

Life was tough for many athletes who went into the Womens National Basketball League (WNBL) hub for the COVID-19 affected 2020 season. ... virus. The researchers say the women reported feeling both Read more about What was it like to be an elite athlete stuck in a COVID-19 hub?

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

EXPERT REACTION: Flooding hits Sydney and NSW

Publicly released: Mon 4 Jul 2022 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

There are multiple evacuation warnings and orders in place affecting around 30,000 people. ... The Bureau of Meteorology says that localised heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding remains Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Flooding hits Sydney and NSW

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