Resources for Journalists

No link between vaccination during pregnancy and fetal anomalies

Publicly released: Tue 5 Apr 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Pediatrics

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 while pregnant will not put your baby at risk of a fetal abnormality in the womb, according to international research. ... What The Study Did: The association between Read more about No link between vaccination during pregnancy and fetal anomalies

Parasite thrives if its host survives

Publicly released: Mon 4 Apr 2022 at 1427 AEST, 1627 NZST

Ecology and Evolution

The ability of species to adapt to existential challenges depends on the host’s ability to ‘discover’ new strategies via random mutations, and the greater the number of individuals in a Read more about Parasite thrives if its host survives

Pre-surgery support could help elective surgery patients quit smoking

Publicly released: Mon 4 Apr 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

an offer of mailed NRT (according to reported daily smoking: 1‒9 cigarettes/day, 2 mg lozenges; 10‒15/day, 7‒14 mg patches [3 weeks] and 2 mg lozenges; > ... Of 748 eligible participants (control, Read more about Pre-surgery support could help elective surgery patients quit smoking

More infants are getting infected with Omicron, but severe disease is rarer

Publicly released: Sat 2 Apr 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

The researchers say about 1-1. 5 infants in 1000 caught COVID-19 during Delta, but that rose to 2. ... What The Study Did: The results of this study including 650,000 children suggest that the incidence Read more about More infants are getting infected with Omicron, but severe disease is rarer

Molnupiravir eliminates COVID-19 virus in just 3 days, improves symptoms quicker

Publicly released: Fri 1 Apr 2022 at 0901 AEDT, 1101 NZDT

European Congress on Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)

New virology data shows the investigational COVID antiviral drug molnupiravir eliminates actively infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus by day 3 of starting therapy New data to be presented at this Read more about Molnupiravir eliminates COVID-19 virus in just 3 days, improves symptoms quicker

When experiencing the threat of COVID-19, people became more generous

Publicly released: Fri 1 Apr 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Selfish behaviours may derive from fear and self-preservation, and early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic saw examples of selfish behaviour such as stockpiling. ... Ariel Fridman and colleagues examined Read more about When experiencing the threat of COVID-19, people became more generous

Whānau give 'poignant and heartbreaking' accounts of relatives dying of Covid-19

Publicly released: Fri 1 Apr 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

who died from Covid-19 in NZ. ... Next of kin for 22 patients who had died in Wellington Hospital during Levels 3 & 4 of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic (16/22 under General Medicine with an additional Read more about Whānau give 'poignant and heartbreaking' accounts of relatives dying of Covid-19

NZ modelling shows boosters dampen Omicron transmission

Publicly released: Fri 1 Apr 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

New Covid-19 modelling suggests booster shots make a big difference to the spread of Omicron. ... NB: This summary was updated on 30 March. I use a mathematical model to simulate the spread of COVID-19 Read more about NZ modelling shows boosters dampen Omicron transmission

Virtual health appointments may remove barriers for Māori

Publicly released: Fri 1 Apr 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

This Kaupapa Māori study looked at the experiences of Māori with Telehealth during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. ... We interviewed Māori whānau and primary health care providers about accessing Read more about Virtual health appointments may remove barriers for Māori

How does Long Covid compare with chronic fatigue?

Publicly released: Thu 31 Mar 2022 at 1404 AEDT, 1604 NZDT

Journal of Health Psychology

Researchers propose that this is because many Long Covid patients are healthcare professionals themselves, and there is a higher incentive to research the extent of Covid-19. ... However they also warn Read more about How does Long Covid compare with chronic fatigue?

Convalescent plasma may play a role in reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

Publicly released: Thu 31 Mar 2022 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

In a randomised controlled trial, the researchers gave about 600 COVID-19 patients a plasma infusion from a COVID-19 survivor, and another 600 a placebo infusion. ... They say a convalescent plasma Read more about Convalescent plasma may play a role in reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

Pfizer protects young people from severe COVID-19, but Omicron reduces protection

Publicly released: Thu 31 Mar 2022 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

The researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated young people coming into hospital with and without COVID-19 to estimate vaccine effectiveness. ... During an Omicron-dominant period, they say the Read more about Pfizer protects young people from severe COVID-19, but Omicron reduces protection

Ivermectin not effective at reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

Publicly released: Thu 31 Mar 2022 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

A trial looking at several potential treatments for COVID-19 has found ivermectin does not reduce the risk of hospitalisation from the virus. ... They say there were no significant differences in the rate Read more about Ivermectin not effective at reducing COVID-19 hospitalisations

Fewer Aussie teens are in detention or under supervision by the justice system

Publicly released: Thu 31 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Since 2016-2017, the rate of First Nations teens in detention declined from 161 to 117 per 10,000, and the non-Indigenous rate fell from 9. ... 4%) from the highest socioeconomic areas. ‘The full Read more about Fewer Aussie teens are in detention or under supervision by the justice system

Children's bedrooms so cold parents shiver in them

Publicly released: Tue 29 Mar 2022 at 1056 AEDT, 1256 NZDT

Energy Policy

The payment needs to be increased again this winter with more people at home because of isolation rules and the increased need to ventilate homes to prevent the spread of ... 19. “The Winter Energy Read more about Children's bedrooms so cold parents shiver in them

Disinfectant use during pregnancy linked to childhood asthma and eczema

Publicly released: Tue 29 Mar 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

Occupational & Environmental Medicine

While this study is observational and cannot prove cause-and-effect, the researchers say these findings are important to keep in mind, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic requiring an increase Read more about Disinfectant use during pregnancy linked to childhood asthma and eczema

Global rates of sequencing COVID variants is low, but Australia and NZ among the best

Publicly released: Tue 29 Mar 2022 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Nature Genetics

Australia and New Zealand have a high level of routine COVID-19 genomic sequencing compared to the rest of the world, according to international research, which found a huge diversity in ... The study Read more about Global rates of sequencing COVID variants is low, but Australia and NZ among the best

Ageing gratefully: Older people summon more positivity in response to distress

Publicly released: Mon 28 Mar 2022 at 1143 AEDT, 1343 NZDT

The Journal of Neuroscience

Even responding more positively? The answer, according to a study conducted by UNSW psychologist Susanne Schweizer and colleagues from the University of Cambridge, seems to be ‘Yes’. ... Following on Read more about Ageing gratefully: Older people summon more positivity in response to distress

EXPERT REACTION: ATAGI recommends second 'winter booster dose' for vulnerable Australians

Publicly released: Fri 25 Mar 2022 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released recommendations for a fourth 'winter' dose of COVID-19 vaccines. ... The group is encouraging adults aged 65 years and older, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: ATAGI recommends second 'winter booster dose' for vulnerable Australians

Indigenous knowledge helps reveal genomic story of South Island kōura

Publicly released: Fri 25 Mar 2022 at 1020 AEDT, 1220 NZDT

Evolutionary Applications

The team found a strong population genetic structure and some mixing of genetic lineages in 19 kōura populations along the South Island's east coast. ... Yet, genetic studies are rarely informed by Read more about Indigenous knowledge helps reveal genomic story of South Island kōura