Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. Immune response far stronger in people who get vaccinated after they recover from COVID-19

    Publicly released: Tue 19 Apr 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

    Clinical & Translational Immunology

    Comparing 118 COVID-19 recovered, vaccinated samples with 289 vaccinated samples without previous COVID-19 infection, the researchers say T-cell responses, anti-spike IgG responses and neutralising Read more about Immune response far stronger in people who get vaccinated after they recover from COVID-19

    InternationalKarolinska Institutet, Sweden

  2. Hidden immune system issues may explain why some get severe COVID-19 while others are fine

    Publicly released: Mon 18 Apr 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

    Clinical & Translational Immunology

    They found genetic defects that compromise the immune system in patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and say just these particular defects may account for between 3 and 5 per cent ... They also say Read more about Hidden immune system issues may explain why some get severe COVID-19 while others are fine

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales | Garvan Institute of Medical Research ...

  3. Respiratory infections in children more than doubled during Omicron wave

    Publicly released: Sat 16 Apr 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Pediatrics

    The rate of upper airway infections - such as croup or pharyngitis - in kids and teens increased from 1. ... Across the study's timespan, more than 1 in 5 kids with COVID-19 and upper airway infection who Read more about Respiratory infections in children more than doubled during Omicron wave

    InternationalUniversity of Colorado, Northwestern University Feinberg, Stony Brook University (US)

  4. People with mental health disorders may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 despite being vaccinated

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Apr 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    getting a “breakthrough” COVID-19 infection, where vaccination didn’t stop infection. ... 5%) had not received a third booster dose. Strategies to prevent infections among vaccinated people with Read more about People with mental health disorders may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 despite being vaccinated

    InternationalSan Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System (US)

  5. Serious after-effects no more likely after a third COVID-19 vaccine

    Publicly released: Fri 15 Apr 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    Researchers delved into electronic health records from 48,000 Americans, finding people who had three Pfizer or Moderna vaccine shots (using the same vaccine) weren’t more likely to report serious Read more about Serious after-effects no more likely after a third COVID-19 vaccine

    Internationalnference (a company that collaborates with health organisations on data science initiatives), Mayo Clinics in various states including Minnesota, Florida, Arizona (US)

  6. If you're at risk of developing heart problems, you may be at risk of more severe COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Apr 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

    European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)

    Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic health conditions such as CVD have been associated with the most severe outcomes including hospitalisations and deaths. ... 19 (based on laboratory-confirmed Read more about If you're at risk of developing heart problems, you may be at risk of more severe COVID-19

    InternationalLondon School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine, UK

  7. How effective has the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose been in Israel?

    Publicly released: Thu 14 Apr 2022 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

    New England Journal of Medicine

    A fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of severe disease in the short term, according to Israeli research. ... The team used hospital data to examine the difference in COVID-19 outcomes Read more about How effective has the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose been in Israel?

    InternationalClalit Research Institute, Israel

  8. What household cleaning products can inactivate SARS-CoV-2?

    Publicly released: Tue 12 Apr 2022 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

    Viruses

    While vaccinations are key to preventing severe disease and hospitalisation caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus can still infect vaccinated individuals. ... over the potential SARS-CoV-2 Read more about What household cleaning products can inactivate SARS-CoV-2?

    Australia; VICThe Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity ...

  9. Risk of heart inflammation from COVID-19 vax lower than from Influenza vax

    Publicly released: Tue 12 Apr 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

    The researchers examined international databases, looking at more than 400 million vaccination doses, to compare the risk of myopericarditis following vaccination against COVID-19 and other diseases Read more about Risk of heart inflammation from COVID-19 vax lower than from Influenza vax

    InternationalNational University Hospital, Singapore

  10. Are you physically less likely to become infected with COVID-19?

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

    Nature Genetics

    The team also defined three new, protective phenotypes related to the risk of infection following household exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and to symptom severity. ... These newly-identified phenotypes are Read more about Are you physically less likely to become infected with COVID-19?

    InternationalAncestryDNA, USA

  11. Reducing crisis risk in tourism, hospitality

    Publicly released: Mon 11 Apr 2022 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

    Tourism Review International

    With international travel conditions still volatile, the researchers recommend further measures be taken to protect tourism and hospitality businesses while maintaining high levels of trust and Read more about Reducing crisis risk in tourism, hospitality

    Australia; New Zealand; VIC; SAFlinders University | University of Canterbury

  12. How frequently do vaccinated cancer patients catch COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Sat 9 Apr 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Oncology

    People undergoing cancer treatment are at higher risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infection (getting the virus despite being vaccinated) according to international research. ... The team used US electronic Read more about How frequently do vaccinated cancer patients catch COVID-19?

    InternationalCase Western Reserve University, USA

  13. Vaccine-related blood clots could be the result of genetics

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Apr 2022 at 1102 AEST, 1302 NZST

    medRxiv

    Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), a rare disorder causing thrombosis (blood clotting) and thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts), was early in 2021 linked to the AstraZeneca Read more about Vaccine-related blood clots could be the result of genetics

    Australia; SAFlinders University | SA Pathology

  14. Did the 4-month COVID-19 lockdown affect Victorians long-term?

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Apr 2022 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    Victoria's four-month COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 negatively affected the mental health of the state's residents, according to Aussie researchers, who say this impact was not permanent, and ... The team Read more about Did the 4-month COVID-19 lockdown affect Victorians long-term?

    Australia; VIC; ACTMonash University | The Australian National University

  15. Could a sniff test using smelly stuff at home pick up COVID-19?

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Apr 2022 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

    Communications Medicine

    Early use by over 13,000 participants, including 462 who were COVID-positive, found the tool was 79 per cent sensitive at detecting COVID, comparing well to RAT tests. ... on in the brain with Read more about Could a sniff test using smelly stuff at home pick up COVID-19?

    InternationalWeizmann Institute of Science, Bezalel Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University (Israel), Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University (Sweden), University of Oslo (Norway), University of Tokyo (Japan), Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (Portugal), University of Florence (Italy)

  16. How do Delta and Omicron symptoms differ for vaccinated people?

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Apr 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

    The Lancet

    Between June 1, 2021, and Jan 17, 2022, the researchers identified 63 002 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and reported symptoms in the ZOE app. ... The authors conclude: “We report that Read more about How do Delta and Omicron symptoms differ for vaccinated people?

    InternationalKing’s College London, UK

  17. Motivation - not only attitude - is key when it comes to vaccine decisions

    Publicly released: Fri 8 Apr 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS ONE

    Kiwi and Australian researchers sought to understand - and predict - the motivation of individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19, using a policy response framework. ... They say the results also Read more about Motivation - not only attitude - is key when it comes to vaccine decisions

    Australia; New Zealand; NSWManaaki Whenua - Landcare Research | The University of New England

  18. At-risk Kiwis show strong immune response to Pfizer vaccine

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Apr 2022 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

    She says while the study showed no difference in the antibody immune response in Māori when compared to non-Māori, the rates of infection and hospitalisation from COVID-19 remain higher ... SARS-CoV-2 Read more about At-risk Kiwis show strong immune response to Pfizer vaccine

    New ZealandMalaghan Institute of Medical Research | University of Otago ...

  19. Serious blood clot risk for months after getting COVID-19

    Publicly released: Thu 7 Apr 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The BMJ

    Using national registries in Sweden, they identified more than one million people with confirmed SARSCoV-2 infection (the virus responsible for covid-19) between 1 February 2020 and 25 May 2021, Read more about Serious blood clot risk for months after getting COVID-19

    InternationalUmeå University (Sweden), The Open University (UK), University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital (Finland)

  20. Fluvoxamine appears to be an effective option for reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

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

    JAMA Network Open

    Fluvoxamine, a drug usually used as an antidepressant, is highly likely to be able to reduce hospitalisations when used early as a COVID-19 treatment, according to an international meta-analysis. Read more about Fluvoxamine appears to be an effective option for reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

    InternationalMcGill University Health Centre, Canada

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