Resources for Journalists

Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

Publicly released: Mon 6 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2021, flu vaccination rates among Victorian health care and aged care workers dropped, according to Australian research. ... It is likely that influenza vaccination Read more about Flu vax rates for Victorian healthcare workers dropped in 2021

Doing CPR with a face mask works

Publicly released: Sat 4 Jun 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

Euroanaesthesia 2022

Along with chest compressions, it forms cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, CPR training in the Czech Republic and elsewhere was limited to either tuition in Read more about Doing CPR with a face mask works

COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Publicly released: Fri 3 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

PLOS Medicine

Dr Wainstein said when researchers also measured the fall in creatinine levels, which often follows the initial rise, the rate of AKI diagnosis in COVID-19 patients doubled. ... That was a pretty shocking Read more about COVID-19 kidney injury twice as common as diagnosed

Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

This past 12 months has seen a mixed report card for Australian food safety and now we are out and about with relaxing public health measures required to control COVID-19 ... Much of this reduction could Read more about Australia’s Food Safety Report Card released for UN World Food Safety Day

The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 1016 AEST, 1216 NZST

Perceptual and Motor Skills

This relationship was observed at two timepoints: immediately after the initial COVID-19-related shutdown of sport in South Australia and approximately six months later, at the end of the athletes' Read more about The mindful way to manage stress among elite athletes

EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Researchers from Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa modelled different scenarios, finding that a second smaller COVID wave arose in the latter half of 2022 in all scenarios, however a higher peak of Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How might waning immunity and reinfections affect NZ’s next Omicron wave?

Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

French and Emirati researchers have found that dogs trained to sniff out COVID-19 infections in people can do so with a high sensitivity and even perform better than some commonplace ... Future research Read more about Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 better than a RAT

Perceived expert views could influence COVID-19 jab hesitancy

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Before COVID-19 vaccines became commonly available, researchers surveyed Czech doctors and members of the general public to get a sense of what people thought doctors’ views were, and whether that Read more about Perceived expert views could influence COVID-19 jab hesitancy

Many aspects of teens' lifestyles became more unhealthy during COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 2 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

BMJ Open

During the COVID-19 pandemic, teens spent more time on screens, used more alcohol and tobacco, and more of them didn't eat enough fruit, according to Australian research. ... encompassing the COVID-19 Read more about Many aspects of teens' lifestyles became more unhealthy during COVID-19

Mandating flu jab, but not COVID-19 jab, ethically justified for healthcare staff

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Journal of Medical Ethics

hesitancy, the authors compare the ethical criteria for mandating vaccination of healthcare staff against COVID-19 and seasonal flu. ... What’s more, COVID-19 illness severity has reduced, due to Read more about Mandating flu jab, but not COVID-19 jab, ethically justified for healthcare staff

Changing the way we jab might help stop post-vax fatigue

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Biology

fatigueDespite their strong effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are associated with adverse post-vaccination effects, such as fatigue; how can this be avoided? ... To improve Read more about Changing the way we jab might help stop post-vax fatigue

Ethnic biases in pulse oximetry may restrict timely treatment for Black and Hispanic patients

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

About The Study: This analysis of a large clinical data set of patients with COVID-19 found significant and persistent overestimation of arterial oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry among Asian, Read more about Ethnic biases in pulse oximetry may restrict timely treatment for Black and Hispanic patients

Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21

Publicly released: Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

1 million in 2019–20. Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21Public and private hospital admissions rebounded in 2020–21, following a Read more about Hospital admissions rose as COVID-19 restrictions eased in most states and territories in 2020–21

Pandemic mental health help for all ages

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

JMIR Mental Health

About one in five Australians experience mental health problems at some stage of their lives, and experts are forecasting an increase in demand for support as a result of COVID-19 ... The latest Read more about Pandemic mental health help for all ages

How COVID-19 created dramatic changes in a ‘winter virus’

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

Nature Communications

Virus landscape in a state of changeThe study documents a major shift in the epidemiology of RSV following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. ... Dr Eden said the COVID-19 Read more about How COVID-19 created dramatic changes in a ‘winter virus’

2021 NZ Prime Minister’s Science Prizes announced

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 1330 AEST, 1530 NZST

As the result of this programme, genomic sequencing has been used as a key tool for understanding and limiting the spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand and has been critical ... Cartoonist and illustrator Read more about 2021 NZ Prime Minister’s Science Prizes announced

Rapid lab analysis by Australian researchers informs global guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination and treatment

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 1239 AEST, 1439 NZST

Nature Microbiology

Researchers from the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney have developed a world-first method for rapid isolation and characterisation of COVID-19 variants. ... The researchers found that the vaccine-induced Read more about Rapid lab analysis by Australian researchers informs global guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination and treatment

Flu season 2022 - what you need to know

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

As Australia heads into winter, with COVID-19 also in the mix, Associate Professor Michelle Tate answers all your flu FAQs. ... Additionally, we are seeing cases of flu and Covid-19 together, which is Read more about Flu season 2022 - what you need to know

Two thirds of Aussies think COVID-19 lockdowns were 'just right'

Publicly released: Tue 31 May 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Two-thirds of Australians view the severity of the state government-imposed as “about right”, although not surprisingly, Victorians were the most likely to view the lockdowns as too restrictive, Read more about Two thirds of Aussies think COVID-19 lockdowns were 'just right'

Vaccine immunity still wanes after COVID-19 infection, but not as quickly

Publicly released: Fri 27 May 2022 at 0945 AEST, 1145 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

The team used Israeli health data to measure the rate of infection at different times after vaccination, and compared people who've had COVID-19 with people who haven't. ... The rate of infections per Read more about Vaccine immunity still wanes after COVID-19 infection, but not as quickly