Resources for Journalists

Immunity boost in the gut

Publicly released: Mon 31 May 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

Nature Reviews Immunology

In separate studies, the lab is also assessing COVID-19 vaccine immune responses and coordinating the Australian BRACE trial funded by the Gates Foundation to test whether the BCG vaccine can Read more about Immunity boost in the gut

A free flu vax for Aussie kids has increased vaccination rates

Publicly released: Mon 31 May 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia (MJA)

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza was responsible for a higher disease burden and overall health impact than any other vaccine-preventable disease in Australia,” wrote the authors, led by Dr Read more about A free flu vax for Aussie kids has increased vaccination rates

Reinfection with COVID-19 more than 10 times less common than first infection

Publicly released: Sat 29 May 2021 at 0110 AEST, 0310 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

What The Study Did: Study results suggest that reinfections are rare events and that patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have a lower risk of reinfection. ... However, the observation ended Read more about Reinfection with COVID-19 more than 10 times less common than first infection

Pfizer vaccine effective for 90% of those undergoing cancer treatment

Publicly released: Sat 29 May 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Oncology

Comparing the results with 78 vaccinated people not undergoing cancer treatment, the researchers found everyone in that group had COVID-19 antibodies. ... What the study did Rates of antispike antibody Read more about Pfizer vaccine effective for 90% of those undergoing cancer treatment

COVID-19 kept our parks busy, but not everyone ventured outside

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 1226 AEST, 1426 NZST

People and Nature

Public use of parks and reserves increased only slightly during last year’s COVID-19 national lockdown despite gyms and sports facilities shutting down, a University of Queensland study found. Read more about COVID-19 kept our parks busy, but not everyone ventured outside

Long live live music: Making indoor concerts COVID safe

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 1016 AEST, 1216 NZST

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

SARS-CoV-2 virus and the cancellation of large events has played an important role in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control. ... Further lab tests confirmed none of these people were infected with Read more about Long live live music: Making indoor concerts COVID safe

New research could pave the way for safer and more efficient COVID-19 testing

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

Angewandte Chemie

Dale Godfrey and Damian Purcell from the Doherty Institute, report on a new diagnostic approach, which involves the use of a portable infrared instrument to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus ... The unique Read more about New research could pave the way for safer and more efficient COVID-19 testing

Mice, hamsters respond well to DNA vaccine for COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Currently available COVID-19 vaccines rely on mRNA strands to teach the human immune system to recognize the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ... The DNA vaccine confers protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection Read more about Mice, hamsters respond well to DNA vaccine for COVID-19

Lack of trust in doctors is behind vaccine uncertainty in US Black community

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Researchers also found Black people were significantly more likely to reject both taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, and receiving the vaccine. ... The survey’s authors suggest that Read more about Lack of trust in doctors is behind vaccine uncertainty in US Black community

Two thirds of Aussie youths under justice supervision were repeat offenders in 2019-20

Publicly released: Fri 28 May 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Ritson said. ‘The full impact of COVID-19 may be difficult to determine due to variability of the data and small numbers of young people in youth justice on an average ... day. In future work, the AIHW Read more about Two thirds of Aussie youths under justice supervision were repeat offenders in 2019-20

QUT research reveals Freo as creative capital of WA

Publicly released: Thu 27 May 2021 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

QUT eprints

bodies including Arts Queensland, Creative Victoria, Arts NSW, Arts South Australia and Department of Culture and the Arts, WA. ... These are jobs among those less able to be replaced by automation and Read more about QUT research reveals Freo as creative capital of WA

EXPERT REACTION: Victoria announces 7-day circuit breaker lockdown to combat highly infectious variant of concern

Publicly released: Thu 27 May 2021 at 1300 AEST, 1500 NZST

It has just been reported that Victoria will enter a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown from 11:59pm tonight in a bid to curb the state’s growing coronavirus outbreak caused ... In a press conference, Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Victoria announces 7-day circuit breaker lockdown to combat highly infectious variant of concern

New 'hottest year on record' likely to occur in the next 5 years

Publicly released: Thu 27 May 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

The Paris Agreement seeks to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2°C degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even Read more about New 'hottest year on record' likely to occur in the next 5 years

Donuts, beer, big bucks - but are vaccine incentives a good idea?

Publicly released: Thu 27 May 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Krispy Kreme donuts, free beer, gift cards - and multi-million dollar lotteries - are all incentives offered by some American states and businesses to tempt more people to take up the Read more about Donuts, beer, big bucks - but are vaccine incentives a good idea?

Almost three-quarters of COVID survivors have lingering symptoms

Publicly released: Thu 27 May 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Long-lasting problems are occurring for many people after being infected with COVID-19. ... But the frequency, variety, and severity of these complications aren’t yet well understood. Read more about Almost three-quarters of COVID survivors have lingering symptoms

Pfizer vaccine may pack less punch for people with arthritis

Publicly released: Wed 26 May 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

The authors assessed the immune response to the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in 82 patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (mainly psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid Read more about Pfizer vaccine may pack less punch for people with arthritis

'Supertasters' could be naturally better at fighting off COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 26 May 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Of the 266 people who tested positive for COVID-19 during the study, 15 were 'supertasters'. ... tastes) and outcomes after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Read more about 'Supertasters' could be naturally better at fighting off COVID-19

Home palliative care doubles as need increases overall in Australia

Publicly released: Wed 26 May 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

In 2018-19, 83,430 hospitalisations were related to palliative care with hospitalisations increasing over the five years of the report. ... Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 83,500 palliative Read more about Home palliative care doubles as need increases overall in Australia

China makes remarkable gains in maternal and child survival rates

Publicly released: Wed 26 May 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

The Lancet

advances in medical services and technology The report found that China now needed to turn its focus to emerging or neglected health problems including infertility, stillbirth, mental health and the Read more about China makes remarkable gains in maternal and child survival rates

EXPERT REACTION: The Indian B1617 COVID-19 variant is in the Melbourne community

Publicly released: Tue 25 May 2021 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton has confirmed Victoria's new locally acquired case as the B1617 variant, which is currently wreaking havoc across India. ... As of Tuesday afternoon, nine Read more about EXPERT REACTION: The Indian B1617 COVID-19 variant is in the Melbourne community