Resources for Journalists

Two cases of COVID-19 variants in people already vaccinated with mRNA vaccines

Publicly released: Thu 22 Apr 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Two cases of women becoming infected with variants of COVID-19 despite already being fully vaccinated are reported, highlighting the potential risk from variants, according to US research. Read more about Two cases of COVID-19 variants in people already vaccinated with mRNA vaccines

Early data on mRNA vaccines during pregnancy shows no obvious safety concerns

Publicly released: Thu 22 Apr 2021 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

Early data on pregnant people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations shows no clear safety issues, according to US researchers. ... For the 827 people who gave birth, adverse pregnancy and newborn Read more about Early data on mRNA vaccines during pregnancy shows no obvious safety concerns

Fewer deaths among Aussies with dementia in the first 10 months of COVID-19

Publicly released: Thu 22 Apr 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Over the past year, Australia has introduced a range of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and treat those affected,’ said AIHW spokesperson Dr. ... Although they are more likely to develop severe Read more about Fewer deaths among Aussies with dementia in the first 10 months of COVID-19

Children exposed to intimate partner violence twice as likely to have poorer language skills and mental and physical health

Publicly released: Thu 22 Apr 2021 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

BMJ

The impact of COVID-19 has increased pressures on families and heightened the need for more effective intervention and support for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. ” ... Intimate partner Read more about Children exposed to intimate partner violence twice as likely to have poorer language skills and mental and physical health

Life expectancy with HIV is catching up to the general population in Central and South America

Publicly released: Wed 21 Apr 2021 at 1700 AEST, 1900 NZST

The Lancet HIV

Sadly, however, the old challenges linger amid the COVID-19 pandemic, such that life expectancy gains among people with HIV could wane. ... The region is affected by endemic income and health inequalities Read more about Life expectancy with HIV is catching up to the general population in Central and South America

Percentages, graphs, personas: Communicating the risk of COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 21 Apr 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

With the wealth of knowledge about COVID-19's risk factors, it's now possible to create personalised calculators of someone's chance of dying from the disease. ... Personalised calculators to help present Read more about Percentages, graphs, personas: Communicating the risk of COVID-19

How to find a leaky quarantine

Publicly released: Wed 21 Apr 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

The researchers say the normal rate of Covid-19 cases detected in the second week is 17 per cent, and if that rises to roughly 20 per cent or higher, it ... As more countries restrict border access due to Read more about How to find a leaky quarantine

Animal culture should be included in conservation efforts

Publicly released: Wed 21 Apr 2021 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B

The team say such behaviors have implications for reproduction, survival, or adaptation, and that the COVID-19 “anthropause” could be a good time to further study how social learning impacts a Read more about Animal culture should be included in conservation efforts

2 months after Israel's vaccination campaign began, cases dropped by 77 per cent

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Nature Medicine

A significant drop in COVID-19 cases in Israel early this year was strongly influenced by the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, according to Israeli researchers. ... Examining health data, the researchers Read more about 2 months after Israel's vaccination campaign began, cases dropped by 77 per cent

COVID 'subunit' vaccine shown to be effective in animal trials

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 1034 AEST, 1234 NZST

Nature

A COVID-19 vaccine that contains only a small part of the virus alongside an agent that stimulates the immune system, has been shown to provide protective immunity in non-human ... The authors say Read more about COVID 'subunit' vaccine shown to be effective in animal trials

Women who take vitamins are catching COVID-19 less frequently

Publicly released: Tue 20 Apr 2021 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

risk Taking multivitamins, omega-3, probiotics or vitamin D supplements may lessen the risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 infection--at least among Read more about Women who take vitamins are catching COVID-19 less frequently

A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1430 AEST, 1630 NZST

Understanding how COVID-19 has affected families is the focus of a new University of South Australia and Monash University study where researchers are exploring fathers’ experiences of pregnancy Read more about A dad’s-eye view of pregnancy during the pandemic

We have no idea what's happening to global microbe diversity

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Human gut bacteria populations are reportedly becoming less diverse, while variation in the virus that causes COVID-19 is increasing. ... Says Dr. Thaler: The world is finding hundreds of variants of the Read more about We have no idea what's happening to global microbe diversity

Eye and cystic fibrosis drugs identified among drugs with potential to guide new COVID-19 treatments

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1349 AEST, 1549 NZST

mBio

that block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) to cells. ... Each provided $100,000 to the Australian node of iCAIR®’s COVID-19 project to develop treatments against SARS-CoV-2,” Read more about Eye and cystic fibrosis drugs identified among drugs with potential to guide new COVID-19 treatments

Biomarker for inflammation predicts COVID-19 risk

Publicly released: Mon 19 Apr 2021 at 1233 AEST, 1433 NZST

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

This chemical may help, together with other patient characteristics, in predicting which COVID-19 patients are likely to deteriorate and require aggressive management,” the researchers say. Read more about Biomarker for inflammation predicts COVID-19 risk

To stop COVID-19, 2 masks are better than 1

Publicly released: Sat 17 Apr 2021 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

In a small study, US scientists compared the filtering efficiency of single facemasks versus double masking. ... worse than one of the cloth masks (Hanes cotton ear-loop mask) they tested. Read more about To stop COVID-19, 2 masks are better than 1

Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle function, mouse study suggests

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1800 AEST, 2000 NZST

Journal of Endocrinology

In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be as prevalent as 40% in European populations and linked to increased risk for several conditions, including COVID-19, cancer and Read more about Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle function, mouse study suggests

EXPERT Q&A: What is vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)?

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

EXPERT Q&A with Professor Beng Chong. Beng is an expert on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) - the condition which most closely resembles the blood clot condition linked to the AstraZeneca Read more about EXPERT Q&A: What is vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)?

EXPERT REACTION: Brain blood clots may be more likely after COVID-19 infection than following vaccines

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1155 AEST, 1355 NZST

Compared to the current COVID-19 vaccines, this risk is between 8-10 times higher, and compared to the baseline, approximately 100 times higher. ... An important factor that requires further research is Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Brain blood clots may be more likely after COVID-19 infection than following vaccines

You're less likely to catch COVID-19 a second time, but the risk is still there

Publicly released: Fri 16 Apr 2021 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: Past COVID-19 infection does not fully protect young people against reinfectionStudy finds that participants who had not previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 Read more about You're less likely to catch COVID-19 a second time, but the risk is still there