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. COVID-19 vaccine passes - are they worth it?

    Publicly released: Thu 4 Nov 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    The BMJ

    In an opinion piece, the researchers argue the merits and downsides of a 'COVID pass,' which provides proof either of vaccination or some other safeguard against spreading COVID-19 like previous Read more about COVID-19 vaccine passes - are they worth it?

    InternationalTony Blair Institute for Global Change, UK

  2. Pandemic linked with 5 times as many extra 'years of life lost', than for flu

    Publicly released: Thu 4 Nov 2021 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

    The BMJ

    Understanding the full impact of the covid-19 pandemic requires not only counting excess deaths (difference between observed and expected numbers of deaths from all causes), but also analysing how Read more about Pandemic linked with 5 times as many extra 'years of life lost', than for flu

    New Zealand; InternationalUniversity of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Leicester, UK. Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany. National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russian Federation. Harvard University, US.

  3. Breastfeeding mums with COVID-19 may help build bubs' immunity

    Publicly released: Thu 4 Nov 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    The team measured levels of COVID-19 spike protein antibodies in blood, saliva, and breastmilk 48 hours after birth and two months later. ... Immune Response of Neonates Born to Mothers Infected With SARS Read more about Breastfeeding mums with COVID-19 may help build bubs' immunity

    InternationalBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Italy

  4. COVID-19 vaccine pioneer awarded Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

    Publicly released: Wed 3 Nov 2021 at 1900 AEDT, 2100 NZDT

    as HIV, Ebola, SARS and most recently, COVID-19. ... Last year Professor Holmes was the first person in the world to publicly share the COVID-19 virus’ genome sequence. Read more about COVID-19 vaccine pioneer awarded Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

    Australia; NSW; VIC; QLDAustralian Government - Dept of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

  5. Hand washing and sanitising not enough: close that toilet lid after flushing!

    Publicly released: Wed 3 Nov 2021 at 0933 AEDT, 1133 NZDT

    Science of the Total Environment

    Aside from considering the risks of COVID-19 transmission in bathrooms, the review also analysed other infectious disease risks from public toilets in restaurants, workplaces, commercial premises and Read more about Hand washing and sanitising not enough: close that toilet lid after flushing!

    Australia; SA; ACTUniversity of South Australia | The Australian National University

  6. Kids’ use of mental health services surges following 2020 lockdown

    Publicly released: Wed 3 Nov 2021 at 0832 AEDT, 1032 NZDT

    The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

    More children and adolescents used hospital mental health services in NSW following the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown than in the years prior to the pandemic, new research into paediatric hospital services Read more about Kids’ use of mental health services surges following 2020 lockdown

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales | The University of Sydney ...

  7. Massive NZ project funded to decipher gravitational waves

    Publicly released: Wed 3 Nov 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    sustainable South Pacific tourism in a COVID-19 world; and how girls deal with the dangers and social benefits of online media. ... language; young onset Parkinson’s disease; the effects of climate Read more about Massive NZ project funded to decipher gravitational waves

    New ZealandRoyal Society Te Apārangi

  8. Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine 73.6% effective against COVID-19

    Publicly released: Wed 3 Nov 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Network Open

    COV2. S (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine and 88,898 unvaccinated patients, are consistent with the clinical trial–reported efficacy of Ad26. ... COV2. S, suggesting that the vaccine is effective at Read more about Single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine 73.6% effective against COVID-19

    Internationalnference, USA

  9. COVID infection plus a double jab may give more durable immunity than jabs alone

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 1019 AEDT, 1219 NZDT

    JAMA

    US health care workers who had caught COVID-19 and then had two doses of mRNA vaccine had higher spike antibody levels 6 months after being vaccinated than those who had ... A second study showed people Read more about COVID infection plus a double jab may give more durable immunity than jabs alone

    InternationalJohns Hopkins University, USA

  10. Zinc shown to prevent symptoms and shorten duration of common cold and flu-like illnesses

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

    BMJ Open

    However, none of the RCTs were specific to SARS-CoV-2 due to results of those trials pending at the time. ... The review findings also align with calls for more immuno-nutrition research, particularly in Read more about Zinc shown to prevent symptoms and shorten duration of common cold and flu-like illnesses

    Australia; NSWWestern Sydney University | The University of Sydney ...

  11. Strategy for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines revealed

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0850 AEDT, 1050 NZDT

    Immunity

    Current COVID-19 vaccines, which target the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, are highly effective at reducing disease severity and reducing transmission. ... In contrast, when we used the SARS-CoV-2 protein, the Read more about Strategy for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines revealed

    Australia; International; NSW; ACTGarvan Institute of Medical Research | The University of New South Wales ...

  12. Samoan plant could be as good as widely-popular painkiller, finds indigenous-led study

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0752 AEDT, 0952 NZDT

    PNAS

    Also, molecular studies published last year predicted rutin as a strong contender in inhibiting the viral replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. ” ... The Scientific Research Read more about Samoan plant could be as good as widely-popular painkiller, finds indigenous-led study

    New Zealand; Pacific; InternationalVictoria University of Wellington | Scientific Research Organization of Samoa, Samoa; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Samoa; New York University, USA; Stanford University, USA; University of California San Diego, USA

  13. COVID-19 got you crying? Antibodies in tears may not protect against the virus

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

    Clinical & Translational Immunology

    COVID-19 antibodies are detectable in tears following infection and vaccination, say Australian researchers, although whether they can play a protective role and actually neutralise the virus Read more about COVID-19 got you crying? Antibodies in tears may not protect against the virus

    Australia; VICDoherty Institute for Infection and Immunity | The University of Melbourne ...

  14. Brain blood clot risk still low, but increases after Johnson & Johnson vaccine

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

    JAMA Internal Medicine

    While the risk remains low, those vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are more likely to develop a blood clot in their brain than the general population, according to ... 02 per 100,000 Read more about Brain blood clot risk still low, but increases after Johnson & Johnson vaccine

    InternationalMayo Clinic, USA

  15. Counting women in COVID-19 vaccine research

    Publicly released: Tue 2 Nov 2021 at 0000 AEDT, 0200 NZDT

    Frontiers in Global Women's Health

    We found women have been recruited equally for randomised control trials for COVID-19 vaccines and in observational research the majority of participants were women. ... The study examined more than 300 Read more about Counting women in COVID-19 vaccine research

    Australia; NSW; ACTGeorge Institute for Global Health | The Australian National University

  16. ‘Starkly low’ research funding for eating disorders

    Publicly released: Mon 1 Nov 2021 at 1531 AEDT, 1731 NZDT

    Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

    As the COVID-19 pandemic underpins a rise in mental health problems globally, experts are raising a red flag on ‘starkly lower’ government funding for research and delivery of effective eating Read more about ‘Starkly low’ research funding for eating disorders

    Australia; SA; ACTFlinders University | The Australian National University

  17. Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

    Publicly released: Sat 30 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

    Science Advances

    A needle-free COVID-19 vaccination could be possible, with University of Queensland scientists successfully protecting mice from the virus by administering a US-developed vaccine candidate with a Read more about Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland

  18. It may be safe to open schools with Covid prevention in place

    Publicly released: Fri 29 Oct 2021 at 1122 AEDT, 1322 NZDT

    Nature Medicine

    A US study found that opening schools for face-to-face learning did not often lead to more Covid-19 infection. ... A separate Japanese study found no significant differences between infection rates in Read more about It may be safe to open schools with Covid prevention in place

    InternationalVA Boston Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, USA; Gakushuin University, Japan

  19. Antidepressant fluvoxamine a promising COVID-19 treatment

    Publicly released: Fri 29 Oct 2021 at 1100 AEDT, 1300 NZDT

    The Lancet Global Health

    The results represent an important step in understanding the role of fluvoxamine as a treatment for outpatients with COVID-19 and finding inexpensive, widely available, and effective therapies Read more about Antidepressant fluvoxamine a promising COVID-19 treatment

    Australia; International; VICMonash University | Cardiologia Assistencial e de Pesquisa, Brazil, McMaster University, Canada

  20. Double vaxxed people can still pass on Delta in the home, but the chances are lower

    Publicly released: Fri 29 Oct 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

    The Lancet Infectious Diseases

    research. The team studied 621 people identified through the UK contact tracing system, and found that 25 per cent of vaccinated household contacts of a COVID-19 infected person tested positive Read more about Double vaxxed people can still pass on Delta in the home, but the chances are lower

    InternationalImperial College London, UK

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