Resources for Journalists

Mindfulness training in schools not a cure-all for mental health problems

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jul 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Evidence Based Mental Health

matched study skills curriculum (225) before the advent of COVID-19, were monitored in the midst of the pandemic to see whether mindfulness training had enabled them to stave off worsening Read more about Mindfulness training in schools not a cure-all for mental health problems

Embrace technology and boost education outcomes

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jul 2022 at 0800 AEST, 1000 NZST

There’s no doubt that education lays the foundation for a child’s future success, but as teaching technologies continue to inundate classrooms - especially amid COVID-19 - educators at all levels Read more about Embrace technology and boost education outcomes

Every 8 minutes, an Aussie is diagnosed with diabetes

Publicly released: Wed 13 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Similarly, diabetes was a pre-existing condition in 20% of the 3,600 deaths due to COVID-19 between January 2020 and March 2022. ... Of the 4,700 hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis in Read more about Every 8 minutes, an Aussie is diagnosed with diabetes

The WHO's first report on the equitable expansion of genomics

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jul 2022 at 2300 AEST, Wed 13 Jul 22 at 0100 NZST

the COVID-19 pandemic – as well as agriculture, biological research and more. ... It is already clear that genomics can make enormous contributions to human health, from surveying populations for Read more about The WHO's first report on the equitable expansion of genomics

More physical distancing led to less physical activity for kids and teens

Publicly released: Tue 12 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Physical distancing measures designed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 also reduced the amount of activity for young people, according to a worldwide review of 22 studies that followed more Read more about More physical distancing led to less physical activity for kids and teens

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