Resources for Journalists

Zoom buddies don't let Zoom buddies put on COVID-19 PPE incorrectly

Publicly released: Mon 14 Jun 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

DONNING, DOFFING PPE: REMOTE “BUDDIES” EFFECTIVEIN the COVID-19 era, using “remote buddies” may provide globally reliable access to monitoring, which is critical to keeping healthcare workers Read more about Zoom buddies don't let Zoom buddies put on COVID-19 PPE incorrectly

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine likely to protect against variants, including delta

Publicly released: Fri 11 Jun 2021 at 1045 AEST, 1245 NZST

Nature

Immunology: Pfizer vaccine neutralizes new SARS-CoV-2 variantsSera elicited by the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine neutralize new SARS-CoV-2 variants, reports a paper in Nature. ... tested the Read more about Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine likely to protect against variants, including delta

Vaccination helps protect the unvaccinated from COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 11 Jun 2021 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Nature Medicine

1. Immunology: COVID-19 vaccination helps protect unvaccinated people Higher levels of vaccination against COVID-19 were associated with lower rates of infection with SARS-CoV-2 among a group of Read more about Vaccination helps protect the unvaccinated from COVID-19

Increase in depression and anxiety, but reduction in alcohol-related harm for young Australians during COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 11 Jun 2021 at 0838 AEST, 1038 NZST

Psychological Medicine

In another report using the same APSALS survey data, it was found that alcohol use among young people during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased. ... The report found that changes in consumption appear to be Read more about Increase in depression and anxiety, but reduction in alcohol-related harm for young Australians during COVID-19

Thousands of deaths likely if COVID-19 ‘left to run’ in Victoria without high vaccine uptake and public health measures

Publicly released: Fri 11 Jun 2021 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

COVID’. ”The modelling presents scenarios projecting COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths one year after new infections enter the community, even when people are vaccinated. Read more about Thousands of deaths likely if COVID-19 ‘left to run’ in Victoria without high vaccine uptake and public health measures

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