Resources for Journalists

Real world data suggests mRNA COVID vaccines are 91% effective

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jul 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

A study of almost 4000 frontline workers has found the mRNA COVID vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna are 91 per cent effective after two doses, they were also found to ... The US study recorded 204 Read more about Real world data suggests mRNA COVID vaccines are 91% effective

Around half of over-80s may require 2 Pfizer jabs for protection from COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 1 Jul 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

Around half of people aged over 80 require a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to achieve maximum protection from the virus, according to a UK and Mexican ... Age-related immune Read more about Around half of over-80s may require 2 Pfizer jabs for protection from COVID-19

Covid-infected men worse-off than women, regardless of other health problems

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Communications Medicine

For both men and women with COVID-19, hypoxia (a lack of oxygen in the body) may be associated with an increased likelihood of death. ... The findings are published in the newly-launched Read more about Covid-infected men worse-off than women, regardless of other health problems

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca or Pfizer? Australia's COVID-19 jab confusion

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 1654 AEST, 1854 NZST

The decision has not been backed by the Australian Medical Association, and in addition, the advice from the independent Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation – that Pfizer is the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca or Pfizer? Australia's COVID-19 jab confusion

These factors increase the risk of death to COVID-19 for critically ill patients in ICU

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 1604 AEST, 1804 NZST

Anaesthesia

The association between hypertension and cardiovascular disease and increased mortality may be linked to the risk of cardiac injury associated with the systemic inflammatory response to COVID-19 Read more about These factors increase the risk of death to COVID-19 for critically ill patients in ICU

MindStep program helps people with anxiety

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Australian Health Review

New research has confirmed the continuing success of MindStep - a mental health program designed by Flinders University experts and Remedy Healthcare. ... https://doi. org/10. 1071/AH20307) “These Read more about MindStep program helps people with anxiety

The seven strategies essential for handling a pandemic according to science

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Open

International researchers have conducted a review of the published scientific evidence on early infection control, and identified seven strategies that they say are essential for stopping not just Read more about The seven strategies essential for handling a pandemic according to science

EXPERT REACTION: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be linked to inflammation of the heart muscle

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Cardiology

Two studies have found cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, developing within days of people having both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. ... Patients With Acute Read more about EXPERT REACTION: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be linked to inflammation of the heart muscle

Poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and school closure stress felt among teens during COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 30 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Two in five young people experienced mental health problems and one in five had suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic last year in Australia, according to a new study. ... health problems and one Read more about Poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and school closure stress felt among teens during COVID-19 pandemic

More than four in five Kiwis need a Covid jab to reach herd immunity

Publicly released: Tue 29 Jun 2021 at 2300 AEST, Wed 30 Jun 21 at 0100 NZST

has suggested that public health measures will need to remain in place for the entire duration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s vaccine rollout to avoid hospitalisations and fatalities from COVID-19 Read more about More than four in five Kiwis need a Covid jab to reach herd immunity

China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids and triggers strong antibody response

Publicly released: Tue 29 Jun 2021 at 1028 AEST, 1228 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

More than 96% of children and adolescents who received two doses of the vaccine – manufactured by Sinovac – developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. ... They can also transmit the virus to others, Read more about China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids and triggers strong antibody response

One case of rare blood clots after Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Tue 29 Jun 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

They were unable to identify other causes of TTS, including SARS CoV-2 infection, other concurrent infections, immune thrombocytopenia, or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, leading the ... the rarity Read more about One case of rare blood clots after Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 lockdowns work better in wealthier countries

Publicly released: Tue 29 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Lower awareness of COVID-19, poorer health and economic conditions could reduce the effectiveness of lockdowns in developing countries, according to Australian and international researchers. Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns work better in wealthier countries

Biosensors woven into clothing could detect airborne COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 29 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Biotechnology

Such diagnostic tools, which contain genetically encoded circuits for the detection of pathogen nucleic acids, have conventionally been used to detect pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 in traditional formats Read more about Biosensors woven into clothing could detect airborne COVID-19

Using photos of toasters and fridges to train algorithms in detecting COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 28 Jun 2021 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

Neural Computing and Applications

Our technique has the capacity to not only detect COVID-19 in chest x-rays, but also other chest diseases such as pneumonia. ... The research paper, A novel augmented deep transfer learning for Read more about Using photos of toasters and fridges to train algorithms in detecting COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: The first COVID-19 case was likely earlier than records show

Publicly released: Fri 25 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Pathogens

Researchers adopted modelling previously used to map species heading towards extinction to estimate the earliest cases of COVID-19 in China and some of the first countries the virus spread to. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: The first COVID-19 case was likely earlier than records show

How long does loss of smell last after COVID-19?

Publicly released: Fri 25 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

A year on after COVID-19, most but not all people who lost their sense of smell have seen it fully restored. ... International researchers tested 51 patients who lost their sense of smell for more than Read more about How long does loss of smell last after COVID-19?

Genome study reveals East Asian coronavirus epidemic 20,000 years ago

Publicly released: Fri 25 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Current Biology

Other independent studies have shown that mutations in VIP genes may mediate coronavirus susceptibility and also the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. ... And several VIPs are either currently being used in Read more about Genome study reveals East Asian coronavirus epidemic 20,000 years ago

Australia's pre-COVID-19 deaths data released

Publicly released: Fri 25 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The Deaths in Australia, General Record of Incidence of Mortality (GRIM) report presents data dating back over 100 years on historical and recent deaths. ... books. These products include information up Read more about Australia's pre-COVID-19 deaths data released

One in three Aussies who lost their job at the start of the pandemic were under 25

Publicly released: Fri 25 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The COVID-19 pandemic hit young Australians the hardest when first lockdown measures were initiated in 2020, according to an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report. ... Despite the ongoing Read more about One in three Aussies who lost their job at the start of the pandemic were under 25