Resources for Journalists

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca advice changes amid Sydney outbreak

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jul 2021 at 0915 AEST, 1115 NZST

ATAGI has updated its advice on COVID-19 vaccination in response to NSW’s outbreak. ... with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, versus the rare risk of a serious side effect. ’ Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca advice changes amid Sydney outbreak

Lateral flow tests quick, cheap, and highly effective at detecting COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jul 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

EClinicalMedicine

Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, and the Medical University of Graz, has found that lateral flow tests detect Covid-19 with similar accuracy to laboratory-based PCR tests, providing they are Read more about Lateral flow tests quick, cheap, and highly effective at detecting COVID-19

Middling vaccination rates could leave us vulnerable to variants

Publicly released: Wed 14 Jul 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Vaccine escape in a heterogeneous population: insights for SARS-CoV-2 from a simple modelRoyal Society Open ScienceThe rapid development and deployment of vaccines is the success story of the Read more about Middling vaccination rates could leave us vulnerable to variants

Discovery points to targeted treatment for COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

a way to stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus from replicating in infected human cells, in a major step towards a new treatment for this and future pandemic viruses. ... In collaboration with Director Professor Read more about Discovery points to targeted treatment for COVID-19

COVID-19 - The facts - Australian Academy of Science launches new campaign

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 1419 AEST, 1619 NZST

you. Even if you are fit and healthy and have a lower risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19, you might pass the virus on to a more vulnerable person ... Everyone can help reduce the impact and Read more about COVID-19 - The facts - Australian Academy of Science launches new campaign

The flu jab might provide some protection against COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 1129 AEST, 1329 NZST

European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID).

Members of the first group had received the flu vaccine between two weeks and six months before being diagnosed with COVID-19. ... Despite this, the influenza vaccine is by no means a replacement for the Read more about The flu jab might provide some protection against COVID-19

COVID-19 BRIEFING: What is 'gain of function' research? 

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 1101 AEST, 1301 NZST

The debate about the origins of COVID-19 has led to some people calling for a ban on so-called 'gain of function' research. ... Gain of function' research can make a virus more infectious or more deadly, Read more about COVID-19 BRIEFING: What is 'gain of function' research? 

COVID-19 has exacerbated gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia Pacific

Publicly released: Tue 13 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The impact of COVID-19 on women in the STEM workforce across the Asia-Pacific region has heightened the challenges and barriers they face in progressing their careers, according to a ... This survey Read more about COVID-19 has exacerbated gender inequity in the STEM workforce across the Asia Pacific

‘Stage 4’ tighter restrictions likely needed to control Delta outbreak in NSW

Publicly released: Mon 12 Jul 2021 at 2039 AEST, 2239 NZST

COVASIM is an agent-based COVID-19 model developed by Burnet Institute and Institute for Disease Modelling in the USA. ... It provides governments with more specific and precise data to inform their Read more about ‘Stage 4’ tighter restrictions likely needed to control Delta outbreak in NSW

Epidemiologists propose 7 revised COVID-19 alert levels for NZ

Publicly released: Mon 12 Jul 2021 at 1409 AEST, 1609 NZST

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

Public health researchers are proposing a revised version of New Zealand’s now established Covid-19 alert levels, which they say no longer reflect the current scientific understanding of the Read more about Epidemiologists propose 7 revised COVID-19 alert levels for NZ

Woman dies after contracting two COVID-19 variants at once

Publicly released: Sun 11 Jul 2021 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

A 90-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 had contracted both the Alpha variant and the Beta variant at the same time. ... This is one of the first documented cases of co-infection with two SARS-CoV-2 Read more about Woman dies after contracting two COVID-19 variants at once

Poorer people less likely to get a COVID-19 test, but more likely to get sick

Publicly released: Sat 10 Jul 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

People in poorer neighbourhoods are being tested for COVID-19 less frequently but are more likely to catch the virus and be hospitalised, according to a Swiss study. ... It is essential to continue to Read more about Poorer people less likely to get a COVID-19 test, but more likely to get sick

How genomics-informed public health action helped control Victoria's second wave

Publicly released: Sat 10 Jul 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Public Health

effort located the source of Victoria’s second COVID-19wave and demonstrated the successful control of the virus in Australia for a second time. ... In Victoria, all positive samples for SARS-CoV-2 are Read more about How genomics-informed public health action helped control Victoria's second wave

Should we start vaccinating kids against COVID-19?

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

The BMJ

International experts, including an Australian, are making the case for and against rolling out COVID-19 vaccinations to kids to stop the current spread of COVID-19. ... Should we delay covid-19 Read more about Should we start vaccinating kids against COVID-19?

Instant COVID sensor to prevent outbreaks and protect communities

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0911 AEST, 1111 NZST

RMIT University is collaborating with partners including Melbourne-based biomedical start-up Soterius on the biosensor, which can detect the presence of tiny amounts of the SARS-CoV-2 Read more about Instant COVID sensor to prevent outbreaks and protect communities

Get your booster: The Delta variant could dodge partial protection

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

The team isolated antibodies from the blood of people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, or received one dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, and tested these against ... the Delta variant, Read more about Get your booster: The Delta variant could dodge partial protection

Māori and Pacific people up to 3 times more likely to get severe Covid-19 illness

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Māori and Pacific people in New Zealand have higher risk of hospitalisation for COVID-19 Key Points Structural inequities and systemic racism in the healthcare system mean that Māori and Pacific Read more about Māori and Pacific people up to 3 times more likely to get severe Covid-19 illness

NZ loos lacking for safe handwashing in pandemic

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Researchers popped into 400 public loos in New Zealand over 6 months to see whether soap and water were on tap to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. ... Deficient hand washing amenities in public Read more about NZ loos lacking for safe handwashing in pandemic

Surveys suggest doctors and nurses worry about the NZ border

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

Local GPs and nurses have expressed concern about risks at the border, and reluctance to open up more widely, in repeated brief COVID-19 surveys. ... SummaryThis paper presents a primary care perspective Read more about Surveys suggest doctors and nurses worry about the NZ border

How did poorer Kiwis cope in lockdown?

Publicly released: Fri 9 Jul 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

New Zealand Medical Journal

SummaryThis research explores the experience of 27 low-income New Zealanders during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. ... Life during lockdown was challenging for study participants who were fearful of the Read more about How did poorer Kiwis cope in lockdown?