Resources for Journalists

Booster protection against symptomatic Omicron wanes after 10 weeks

Publicly released: Thu 3 Mar 2022 at 1245 AEDT, 1445 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

When it comes to preventing all COVID-19 symptoms, the effectiveness of boosters wanes after 10 weeks, according to a UK study. ... It found that after 20 weeks, two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had Read more about Booster protection against symptomatic Omicron wanes after 10 weeks

Weighing up: What’s the bottom line when it comes to weight loss?

Publicly released: Thu 3 Mar 2022 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

BMC Public Health

Lead researcher Associate Professor Karen Murphy says understanding the costs of weight loss programs is important, especially when people are facing financial struggles and reduced access to fresh Read more about Weighing up: What’s the bottom line when it comes to weight loss?

Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine recommended for immunocompromised people

Publicly released: Thu 3 Mar 2022 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

The BMJ

Additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for immunocompromised patients, especially for organ transplant recipients who are least able to make antibodies to fight off coronavirus, Read more about Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine recommended for immunocompromised people

Harmful superbugs set to make common drugs and treatments less effective, says report

Publicly released: Thu 3 Mar 2022 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

The report warns against losing focus on other infectious diseases in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for lessons to be learned from the pandemic, including the promotion ... The report Read more about Harmful superbugs set to make common drugs and treatments less effective, says report

Biomarker discovery measures COVID-19 heart disease risk

Publicly released: Wed 2 Mar 2022 at 2044 AEDT, 2244 NZDT

Analytical Chemistry

Published today in Analytical Chemistry, ANPC Director and lead author Professor Jeremy Nicholson said the research has now provided a quantitative measurement that will detect increased ... The ANPC team Read more about Biomarker discovery measures COVID-19 heart disease risk

Hog's breath the key to more effective masks and ventilation

Publicly released: Wed 2 Mar 2022 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

easier. The researchers say because this design is easy to replicate, it could potentially help with shortages of protective equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Researchers say the design is easy Read more about Hog's breath the key to more effective masks and ventilation

Are medicines affecting our response to infections like COVID-19?

Publicly released: Wed 2 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Are medicines affecting our response to infections like COVID-19? Some common drugs can help and others hinder immune responses A wide-reaching global review has found that some of the ... With the urgent Read more about Are medicines affecting our response to infections like COVID-19?

JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance reform urgently needed to lift up to 1 million Australians out of severe poverty

Publicly released: Wed 2 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Released today (Mar 2) by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, the ‘Behind the Line: Poverty and disadvantage in Australia 2022’ report has revealed the COVID-19 pandemic has forced housing Read more about JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance reform urgently needed to lift up to 1 million Australians out of severe poverty

How do we know if COVID-19 contact tracing is any good?

Publicly released: Tue 1 Mar 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

Contact tracing has become one of the key responses to the pandemic, but how do we know if our systems are any good? ... They found the current performance indicators were missing some elements such as Read more about How do we know if COVID-19 contact tracing is any good?

Gender-affirming hormone therapy can influence gene activity

Publicly released: Tue 1 Mar 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Clinical Epigenetics

Others may worry about hormones altering their susceptibility to infections, which is relevant given the current COVID-19 pandemic. ... lifelong. Researchers from Austin Health, The Walter and Eliza Hall Read more about Gender-affirming hormone therapy can influence gene activity

EXPERT REACTION: TGA cracks down on social media marketing of health products

Publicly released: Mon 28 Feb 2022 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has released a social media advertising guide, cracking down on social media influencers promoting health products such as bandages; medicines; Read more about EXPERT REACTION: TGA cracks down on social media marketing of health products

EXPERT REACTION: Floods wreak havoc in south-east Queensland and NSW

Publicly released: Mon 28 Feb 2022 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

Flooding and severe weather across south-east Queensland and northern NSW is continuing, with severe weather warnings now issued for much of NSW's coastline. ... Below, Aussie experts comment on the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Floods wreak havoc in south-east Queensland and NSW

COVID-19 hits unvaccinated guests harder at spreader wedding

Publicly released: Sat 26 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Vaccinated individuals are less likely to contract COVID-19 after attending a spreader event, according to a case study of a US wedding where half the guests contracted the Delta variant. ... Of the 62 Read more about COVID-19 hits unvaccinated guests harder at spreader wedding

EXPERT REACTION: TGA provisionally approves AstraZeneca's preventative COVID-19 medication

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 1700 AEDT, 1900 NZDT

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved AstraZeneca's combination therapy (tixagevimab and cilgavimab, EVUSHELD). ... The medication is for taking before exposure to Read more about EXPERT REACTION: TGA provisionally approves AstraZeneca's preventative COVID-19 medication

Over 5 million children have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 so far

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

2] Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were an estimated 140 million orphaned children worldwide. ... 1] https://globalhealth5050. org/the-sex-gender-and-covid-19-project/ [2] Quote direct from author Read more about Over 5 million children have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19 so far

Rapid emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants due to the virus' ability to momentarily accelerate its evolutionary pace

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Molecular Biology and Evolution

New research led by the Doherty Institute has found the SARS-CoV-2 virus has the ability to momentarily accelerate its evolutionary pace, enabling variants to emerge more rapidly than other Read more about Rapid emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants due to the virus' ability to momentarily accelerate its evolutionary pace

Mixed results for research into COVID-19 vaccines and hearing loss

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

A study out of Israel has suggested there may be a weak link between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden hearing loss, while a second, larger study from the US found no ... Paper 2 What The Study Did: This Read more about Mixed results for research into COVID-19 vaccines and hearing loss

Ditching distancing could risk vaccine-resistant virus strains

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Human Behaviour

Keeping social distancing in place while vaccination is underway could help prevent new vaccine-resistant strains of the COVID-19 virus, suggests a modelling study. ... Using vaccination and infection Read more about Ditching distancing could risk vaccine-resistant virus strains

Mental health and addiction service users lag behind in vaccine rollout

Publicly released: Fri 25 Feb 2022 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

People with mental health and addiction issues are far more likely to be hospitalised or die from COVID-19, say mental health academics in a commentary piece. ... The authors say coverage varies by DHB, Read more about Mental health and addiction service users lag behind in vaccine rollout

Severe COVID-19 late in pregnancy increases risk of pre-term birth, stillbirths

Publicly released: Thu 24 Feb 2022 at 1601 AEDT, 1801 NZDT

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

Women who contract severe COVID-19 late in their pregnancy are at heightened risk of pre-labor caesarean birth, a very or extreme preterm birth, stillborn birth, and the need for ... Using data from over Read more about Severe COVID-19 late in pregnancy increases risk of pre-term birth, stillbirths