Resources for Journalists

Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0900 AEST, 1100 NZST

BioRxiv (pre-print journal)

A needle-free COVID-19 vaccination could be possible, with University of Queensland scientists successfully protecting mice from the virus by administering a US-developed vaccine candidate with a Read more about Needle-free COVID-19 vaccine shows promise

Funding questioned for papers suggesting smoking reduced COVID-19 risk

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The BMJ

The foundation has invested heavily in the covid-19/nicotine hypothesis, say Horel and Keyzer. ... In June 2020 it set aside €900,000 for research “to better understand the associations between Read more about Funding questioned for papers suggesting smoking reduced COVID-19 risk

Fewer Aussies used hospitals during the early months of pandemic

Publicly released: Thu 3 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

8% between 2018–19 and 2019–20. ‘The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on activity in Australian hospitals. ... Of the 2,600 hospitalisations for people with COVID-19, 225 (8. 6%) required a Read more about Fewer Aussies used hospitals during the early months of pandemic

How many vaccinations does it take to stop COVID-19 restrictions?

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

Vaccinating 40 per cent of a major city population could have the same effectiveness as COVID-19 restrictions in reducing the spread of the virus, according to Mexican researchers. ... If 30 per cent of Read more about How many vaccinations does it take to stop COVID-19 restrictions?

Men's stress goes down in lockdown, but women's goes up

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

Differential effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on well-being: interaction between age, gender and chronotypeWe analyzed highly detailed data on 169 participants for 2-6 months, before and during the Read more about Men's stress goes down in lockdown, but women's goes up

Genetic study suggests vitamin D does not help prevent COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS Medicine

Genetic evidence suggests vitamin D does not provide protection from COVID-19; the strongest evidence yet that vitamin D can't help against the virus, according to international researchers. Read more about Genetic study suggests vitamin D does not help prevent COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: Mission to map Australia’s undiscovered biodiversity predicted to bring big economic benefits

Publicly released: Wed 2 Jun 2021 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

The mission is also expected to:reduce green tape by providing more certainty to the resources sector;help protect Australia’s agriculture and the environment from imported pests and diseases by Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Mission to map Australia’s undiscovered biodiversity predicted to bring big economic benefits

May cause side effects: how social media could be affecting COVID vaccine hesitancy

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

A social media campaign could help to advertise the positives of COVID-19 vaccination and counter the negative posts and comments which are putting Australia’s vaccination program at risk, a Read more about May cause side effects: how social media could be affecting COVID vaccine hesitancy

Where might the next pandemic emerge?

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 0908 AEST, 1108 NZST

Nature Food

5 million km2) allowed the authors to identify hotspots at risk of potential SARS-related coronavirus outbreaks in the future. ... Understanding the circumstances under which coronaviruses can jump from Read more about Where might the next pandemic emerge?

Australia's COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the community service sector

Publicly released: Tue 1 Jun 2021 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

The Australian Journal Of Social Issues

While the health impacts of COVID-19 were far less than expected in Australia, the community service sector was on the front line for those seeing financial and mental health impacts. ... Aussie Read more about Australia's COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the community service sector

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