Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 reinfections in Australia highlight need for vaccination

Publicly released: Mon 13 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia (MJA)

PATIENTS WHO RECOVER FROM COVID-19 SHOULD STILL GET VACCINATED EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:01am Monday 13 December 2021 AWARENESS of the possibility of reinfection with the COVID-19-causing ... infection]. “The Read more about COVID-19 reinfections in Australia highlight need for vaccination

2020 an unhappy year for NZ

Publicly released: Sat 11 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

They found that New Zealanders spent more time getting unhappier in 2020 than the year before, with the worst dips linked to the Australian bushfires in January, the first Covid case ... in Australia, and Read more about 2020 an unhappy year for NZ

What impact has mask-wearing had on littering around the world?

Publicly released: Fri 10 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Nature Sustainability

Country-wide directives to wear masks, sanitise surfaces and wear gloves in response to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to an increase in these items turning up as litter, according to ... The app saw Read more about What impact has mask-wearing had on littering around the world?

Treating 'infodemics' like pandemics may be holding us back

Publicly released: Fri 10 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Cell

describe the amplification of news about the SARS outbreak that new information technologies had made possible. ... Now, following two years of COVID-19 that have continued to highlight the importance of Read more about Treating 'infodemics' like pandemics may be holding us back

Sports betting apps fuel perfect gambling storm

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1223 AEDT, 1423 NZDT

And the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated it further. Professor Ross Gordon, from QUT’s School of Advertising, Marketing and PR, is the lead investigator of the Australian Research Council-funded Read more about Sports betting apps fuel perfect gambling storm

EXPERT REACTION: How do the vaccines hold up against Omicron?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1208 AEDT, 1408 NZDT

Overnight Pfizer has reported that results from preliminary studies suggest two doses of the Pfizer vaccine have a significantly reduced ability to neutralise the Omicron variant, and that three Read more about EXPERT REACTION: How do the vaccines hold up against Omicron?

Biomarker discovery makes early detection of high-risk COVID-19 patients possible

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 1026 AEDT, 1226 NZDT

European Respiratory Journal

Early marker of severe disease The research team collected samples from 30 patients across three groups: 10 patients with COVID-19, 10 with H1N1 influenza and 10 uninfected. ... Our multi-cohort follow Read more about Biomarker discovery makes early detection of high-risk COVID-19 patients possible

Pfizer booster jab 10 times more effective at stopping COVID-19 infection than no booster

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

NEJM

New research shows people who have had the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster jab are 10 times less likely to get infected, and nearly 18 times less likely to get severe ... A second study from Israel also Read more about Pfizer booster jab 10 times more effective at stopping COVID-19 infection than no booster

What can Twitter teach us about the turbulent times of Donald Trump?

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS ONE

His control was high over "fake news", but low for "Jeffrey Epstein" and "coronavirus", although the authors say he may have controlled the COVID-19 narrative using other words or phrases. Read more about What can Twitter teach us about the turbulent times of Donald Trump?

Kiwis took advantage of COVID freedoms last New Year to party hard

Publicly released: Thu 9 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Environmental Science & Technology Letters

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the impact of lockdowns and restrictions on designer drug use in 10 different countries over the 2020/21 New Year period, according to a new ... All samples were Read more about Kiwis took advantage of COVID freedoms last New Year to party hard

Seaweed could be the answer for skin and environment safe suncare products

Publicly released: Wed 8 Dec 2021 at 1313 AEDT, 1513 NZDT

Kiwi scientists are investigating if Aotearoa New Zealand’s seaweed and algae can be used in sun care products that are healthy for our skin and the environment. ... Building a blue economyBy investing Read more about Seaweed could be the answer for skin and environment safe suncare products

'Early warning signals' differ between waves of COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 8 Dec 2021 at 1101 AEDT, 1301 NZDT

Biology Letters

Being able to identify rapid increases in COVID-19 cases before they occur is important in planning for outbreaks, both for governments and individuals, and early warning signals (EWS) appear able Read more about 'Early warning signals' differ between waves of COVID-19

Nearly half of Australians are living with a chronic condition

Publicly released: Wed 8 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

For example, people with chronic conditions are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than those without chronic conditions. ... More research is needed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 Read more about Nearly half of Australians are living with a chronic condition

Easing into retirement could help with skills shortages – but also benefit workers

Publicly released: Tue 7 Dec 2021 at 1201 AEDT, 1401 NZDT

Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources

and constraints in recruiting skilled migrant workers due to COVID. ... They can have other responsibilities, caring, things in the community and so on as they begin to transition into that older point in Read more about Easing into retirement could help with skills shortages – but also benefit workers

How governments lost the trust of their people during COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 7 Dec 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

maintain public trust, finds an analysis of the handling of the COVID-19 crisis by Germany, Sweden, and the UK, published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health. ... All three countries detected Read more about How governments lost the trust of their people during COVID-19

WHO advises against convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 7 Dec 2021 at 1001 AEDT, 1201 NZDT

The BMJ

The recommendations are based on evidence from 16 trials involving 16,236 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical covid-19 infection. ... of neutralising monoclonal antibodies in selected patients Read more about WHO advises against convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19

What's influencing a parent's choice to vaccinate their child?

Publicly released: Tue 7 Dec 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

The team also found those who had experienced the effects of COVID-19 first-hand were more willing to vaccinate their children. ... parental race and ethnicity, gender, education level, previous Read more about What's influencing a parent's choice to vaccinate their child?

Around 4 in 10 homeless Australians have experienced domestic and family violence

Publicly released: Tue 7 Dec 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Around 4 in 10 (39% or 24,600) were experiencing homelessness and 19% (12,400) were in short term temporary accommodation at the start of support,’ Dr. ... One of the reasons for this may have been Read more about Around 4 in 10 homeless Australians have experienced domestic and family violence

COVID-19 pandemic delays cancer diagnoses

Publicly released: Mon 6 Dec 2021 at 1601 AEDT, 1801 NZDT

Cancer

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the diagnosis of new cancers? ... Analysis uncovers significant deficits in diagnostic procedures and subsequent new diagnoses Restrictions in access to care during Read more about COVID-19 pandemic delays cancer diagnoses

Longer interval between mRNA COVID-19 jabs improves immune response

Publicly released: Mon 6 Dec 2021 at 1300 AEDT, 1500 NZDT

JAMA

Longer mRNA vaccine dosing intervals improved patients' immune response against COVID-19, according to a small Canadian study, and the authors say their data suggest extending dosing intervals may be Read more about Longer interval between mRNA COVID-19 jabs improves immune response