Resources for Journalists

Hush little baby don’t say a word… Giving a voice to child victims of family abuse and neglect

Publicly released: Fri 11 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

4 times for males and 2. 5 times for females, and for children who had spent some time in out-of-home care 3. ... and never more so than during the COVID-19 pandemic with the heightened stresses on Read more about Hush little baby don’t say a word… Giving a voice to child victims of family abuse and neglect

EXPERT REACTION: Second Australian death from blood clots following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Thu 10 Jun 2021 at 1759 AEST, 1959 NZST

A 52 year old NSW woman has become the second Australian to die from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. ... Australia now has Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Second Australian death from blood clots following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine linked to bleeding disorder, Pfizer not

Publicly released: Thu 10 Jun 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Nature Medicine

The authors say the small risk associated with the AstraZeneca jab is important, but is far smaller than the risk of serious illness or death caused by COVID-19. ... Additional support was provided Read more about EXPERT REACTION: AstraZeneca vaccine linked to bleeding disorder, Pfizer not

Talking in confined spaces without a mask may pose the greatest risk of spreading COVID-19 to others

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Journal of Internal Medicine

A review of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has found that not only is airborne transmission the main way COVID-19 is transmitted, but ... CoV-2, the virus that Read more about Talking in confined spaces without a mask may pose the greatest risk of spreading COVID-19 to others

Nintendo® Wii therapy may help improve balance in kids with cerebral palsy

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

palsy because it is cheap, can be done at home, and is fun for the kids. ... nature. In addition, it is a low-cost tool that can be used at home for therapeutic purposes, a fact that is of great relevance Read more about Nintendo® Wii therapy may help improve balance in kids with cerebral palsy

COVID-19 lockdowns lead Aussie and UK women to drink more

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 1207 AEST, 1407 NZST

Frontiers in Public Health

Feelings of anxiety, pessimism and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic led middle-aged women in both Australia and the UK to stock up on alcohol, which was associated with drinking ... COVID-19, and Read more about COVID-19 lockdowns lead Aussie and UK women to drink more

Could game theory be applied to COVID-19 vaccine rollouts?

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Optimal governance and implementation of vaccination programs to contain the COVID-19 pandemic Vaccination uptake has become the key factor that will determine our success in containing the COVID-19 Read more about Could game theory be applied to COVID-19 vaccine rollouts?

Pandemic-proofing Australia's education system

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

The University of Queensland and Paul Ramsay Foundation Learning through COVID-19 project has explored the impact of the national lockdown on educational disadvantage and provides a roadmap for Read more about Pandemic-proofing Australia's education system

BCG vaccine trial joins global race to better understand COVID-19 variants

Publicly released: Wed 9 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

remains susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 variants after having COVID-19 or receiving a COVID-19-specific vaccine. ... We have been lucky enough to receive this additional funding for the BRACE COVID-19-Specific Read more about BCG vaccine trial joins global race to better understand COVID-19 variants

A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 1900 AEST, 2100 NZST

Nature Communications

said. “Up until now, we’ve mostly just waited and reacted to viral variants as they emerge, and in the case of SARS-CoV-2 the world has been hit by ... We can now monitor changes in viruses like Read more about A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube

Companies in research partnerships are more innovative and resilient, so why aren't there more?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 1213 AEST, 1413 NZST

The keys to collaboration between small business and the research sector have been revealed in a major new report. ... A survey of small to medium businesses found those in collaborations with researchers Read more about Companies in research partnerships are more innovative and resilient, so why aren't there more?

How much can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID?

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 1017 AEST, 1217 NZST

PLOS One

Modelling by NZ researchers has quantified the role contact tracing plays in stopping the spread of COVID-19, based on NZ data. ... In the best-case scenario, these measures can reduce the spread of the Read more about How much can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID?

NZ midwives navigated pandemic 'often without fully knowing risk to themselves'

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0924 AEST, 1124 NZST

Women and Birth

International and national guidance for midwives practicing during the start of the pandemic was mostly focussed around people working in hospitals, creating uncertainty for most NZ midwives who work Read more about NZ midwives navigated pandemic 'often without fully knowing risk to themselves'

Veggies and fish could help ward off severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

To explore this further, the researchers drew on the survey responses of 2884 frontline doctors and nurses with extensive exposure to SARS-CO-v2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection, Read more about Veggies and fish could help ward off severe COVID-19

Existing illnesses may make kids more vulnerable to severe COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

19. More than a quarter of the kids had one or more existing illnesses, and those with the severe form of COVID-19 were most likely to have type 1 diabetes, ... Children with these underlying conditions Read more about Existing illnesses may make kids more vulnerable to severe COVID-19

Bots may be spreading misinformation about masks on Facebook

Publicly released: Tue 8 Jun 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

The study looked at posts linking to the DANMASK-19 study, which found mask-wearing reduced infection risk by between 23 and 46 per cent, and not the 50 per cent ... Many of these posts made Read more about Bots may be spreading misinformation about masks on Facebook

Children must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1630 AEST, 1830 NZST

MJA Insight+

Valid motivations to keep children in school and the vulnerability of the older school staff and parent population to SARS-CoV-2 spread should be all the more reason for Australia ... An outbreak in a Read more about Children must be vaccinated against COVID-19

Cancer raises the risk of death from COVID-19, especially blood cancers

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Cancer

records of 4,184 hospitalized patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. ... die. Notably, however, among those hospitalized with active cancer and COVID-19, recent Read more about Cancer raises the risk of death from COVID-19, especially blood cancers

How coronavirus aerosols travel through our lungs

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Physics of Fluids

The research is backed up by a recent study of chest CT scans of COVID-19 patients showing greater infection and disease in the regions predicted by the model. ... The study, SARS CoV-2 aerosol: How far Read more about How coronavirus aerosols travel through our lungs

More severe COVID-19 symptoms in some people may be due to a missing 'front-line' defence

Publicly released: Mon 7 Jun 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

The team found that individuals at risk of severe COVID-19 have reduced levels of circulating inflammatory proteins in their blood, which ordinarily would form a 'front-line' defence against infection Read more about More severe COVID-19 symptoms in some people may be due to a missing 'front-line' defence