Resources for Journalists

Children with mental health problems at increased risk of mental disorders as adults

Publicly released: Fri 29 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Given the COVID-19 pandemic has further compounded mental health problems, it’s even more vital to assess for mental health problems in young children and to design, evaluate, and implement Read more about Children with mental health problems at increased risk of mental disorders as adults

Australia 2nd in the world for ice use

Publicly released: Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 1600 AEDT, 1800 NZDT

The researchers believe these declines could be caused by COVID-19 pandemic-related declines in festivals and open entertainment venues along with decreased imports of illicit drugs. ... This pre-dated Read more about Australia 2nd in the world for ice use

COVID-19 variants a threat to vaccinated cancer patients

Publicly released: Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 1400 AEDT, 1600 NZDT

Nature Cancer

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination assessed in patients with cancerPatients with cancer who have been double-vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 have diminished levels of neutralizing Read more about COVID-19 variants a threat to vaccinated cancer patients

COVID-19 treatment sotrovimab could be helpful for high-risk patients

Publicly released: Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

NEJM

Sotrovimab could be a helpful COVID-19 treatment for high-risk patients, according to international researchers who saw reduced disease progression when given early on in the course of the disease. Read more about COVID-19 treatment sotrovimab could be helpful for high-risk patients

Pfizer effectiveness wanes in all age groups after a few months

Publicly released: Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 0800 AEDT, 1000 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

During a surge of the Delta variant in July, the researchers compared the COVID-19 rates among those vaccinated when they were first eligible in early 2021 and those who were ... 2 times more likely to be Read more about Pfizer effectiveness wanes in all age groups after a few months

Those who feel invincible to COVID-19 are less likely to take action against it

Publicly released: Thu 28 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The study recruited people on social media and surveyed them on their beliefs around their own personal vulnerability to COVID-19 and how willing they were to get vaccinated or take ... get vaccinated Read more about Those who feel invincible to COVID-19 are less likely to take action against it

EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer boosters, to be available from Nov 8

Publicly released: Wed 27 Oct 2021 at 1200 AEDT, 1400 NZDT

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved booster shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, to be administered six months after the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. ... The Federal Government Read more about EXPERT REACTION: TGA approves Pfizer boosters, to be available from Nov 8

Cutting cataract surgery wait times would prevent thousands of falls while also saving money

Publicly released: Wed 27 Oct 2021 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Public Health Research & Practice

These estimates do not include the extra waits created by the COVID-related elective surgery pause. ... org/10. 17061/phrp31342116. This link can be included in news stories and will be active once the Read more about Cutting cataract surgery wait times would prevent thousands of falls while also saving money

Vascular disease in COVID-19 is not caused by viral infection of blood vessels

Publicly released: Wed 27 Oct 2021 at 0430 AEDT, 0630 NZDT

Clinical and translational Immunology

The SARS-CoV-2 virus does not infect blood vessels, despite the high risk of blood clots to COVID-19 patients, University of Queensland researchers have found. ... any. “Knowing that it is inflammation Read more about Vascular disease in COVID-19 is not caused by viral infection of blood vessels

People may not drop their social distancing habits after they're vaccinated

Publicly released: Wed 27 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

People who have received two COVID-19 vaccines may not change their behaviour when it comes to social distancing compared to how they acted before vaccination, according to an international survey. Read more about People may not drop their social distancing habits after they're vaccinated

How does your allergy history affect your risk of reacting to Pfizer or Moderna vaccines?

Publicly released: Wed 27 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Those with a history of severe allergic reactions, including to vaccines or medications, are more likely to have an allergic reaction to the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to Read more about How does your allergy history affect your risk of reacting to Pfizer or Moderna vaccines?

What can we learn from Australia's pandemic response?

Publicly released: Tue 26 Oct 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

Annals of Internal Medicine

We can learn a lot from how Australia handled the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Aussie researchers who say early action has led to some success, but that success has also ... the COVID-19 pandemic and Read more about What can we learn from Australia's pandemic response?

Almost all COVID-19's early global spread went undetected

Publicly released: Tue 26 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Nature

Retracing the steps of the COVID-19 pandemicCommunity transmission of SARS-CoV-2 may have begun as early as January 2020 in some areas of Europe and the USA according to ... Nearly two years into the COVID Read more about Almost all COVID-19's early global spread went undetected

You're much more likely to have neurological complications from COVID-19 than vaccines

Publicly released: Tue 26 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Nature Medicine

Several vaccines, including the Oxford–AstraZeneca and Pfizer–BioNTech vaccines, are approved for use in multiple countries and have been shown to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections, transmissions, Read more about You're much more likely to have neurological complications from COVID-19 than vaccines

Paying people to get vaxxed works

Publicly released: Tue 26 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

A pilot program in North Carolina where people were paid $25 to either get their Covid-19 vaccine or drive someone to their appointment, has shown promise for stemming the declining ... The payments Read more about Paying people to get vaxxed works

Mentoring a boost for women breaking into senior medical research roles

Publicly released: Mon 25 Oct 2021 at 1005 AEDT, 1205 NZDT

BMJ Open

The findings demonstrated changes to knowledge, skills, behaviours and research metrics that were directly attributed to the program. ... Women in the health and medical research sector are missing from Read more about Mentoring a boost for women breaking into senior medical research roles

COVID-19 risks explained with new tool

Publicly released: Mon 25 Oct 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

GPs are spending a lot of time trying to explain the risks of COVID-19 and the various vaccines to their patients,” Dr Litt said. ... It presents risk using simple bar-charts, so that it’s easy to Read more about COVID-19 risks explained with new tool

Living guidelines for care of kids and teens with COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 25 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

MJA

The effects of COVID-19 on children's wellbeing and development must also be taken into account, they add. ... The potential impact of emerging aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as “long Read more about Living guidelines for care of kids and teens with COVID-19

COVID-19's silver lining: improving cancer care

Publicly released: Mon 25 Oct 2021 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

MJA

cancer. ”“Health systems and health care professionals have demonstrated a remarkable ability to rapidly adapt or modify care practices to deliver optimal cancer care, while minimising risk of Read more about COVID-19's silver lining: improving cancer care

COVID-19 patients have shorter attention spans, worse memories

Publicly released: Sat 23 Oct 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Months after recovery, many Covid-19 patients have reported feeling like they're swimming through a 'brain fog'. ... US researchers looked at a group of 740 relatively young patients who survived Read more about COVID-19 patients have shorter attention spans, worse memories