Resources for Journalists

Inactive ingredient triggered a severe allergic reaction to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Wed 7 Apr 2021 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Clinical & Experimental Allergy

COVID-19 vaccine anaphylaxis and PEG allergy are both rare, so proof of PEG as the cause in one case of vaccine anaphylaxis is important. ... However, it is important to emphasise that PEG allergy is rare Read more about Inactive ingredient triggered a severe allergic reaction to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Gradual doses used to vaccinate people allergic to their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Publicly released: Tue 6 Apr 2021 at 1030 AEST, 1230 NZST

Annals of Internal Medicine

In addition, three to four weeks after receiving the second dose, both patients had antibodies against COVID-19, suggesting the vaccination worked despite the graded dosing protocol. ... Skin prick and Read more about Gradual doses used to vaccinate people allergic to their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

It may be worth re-engineering UQ's Aussie COVID-19 vaccine to avoid the HIV test issue

Publicly released: Tue 6 Apr 2021 at 0500 AEST, 0700 NZST

Clinical & Translational Immunology

The Australian COVID-19 vaccine developed by The University of Queensland was abandoned over concerns it could create false-positive HIV tests, but data from animal trials now shows that it Read more about It may be worth re-engineering UQ's Aussie COVID-19 vaccine to avoid the HIV test issue

'Mummy Wine' culture on social media is not just a fun meme and may be doing harm

Publicly released: Tue 6 Apr 2021 at 0500 AEST, 0700 NZST

Drug and Alcohol Review

Dr Laslett said COVID-19 has exacerbated stress on families, increased isolation, anxiety and tensions, while easing access to alcohol. ... The authors reviewed studies and websites in Australia, Canada Read more about 'Mummy Wine' culture on social media is not just a fun meme and may be doing harm

No COVID-19 herd immunity without vaccination

Publicly released: Sat 3 Apr 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS ONE

An Australian-led review has found that antibody levels suggest no country has had high enough COVID-19 infection rates to generate 'herd immunity' and that mass vaccination is needed to ... The authors Read more about No COVID-19 herd immunity without vaccination

Potential new COVID-19 vaccine targets revealed on the coronavirus spike protein

Publicly released: Fri 2 Apr 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS Computational Biology

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, uses the spike protein to target and infect human cells. ... SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. A key feature of Read more about Potential new COVID-19 vaccine targets revealed on the coronavirus spike protein

Two-thirds of Kiwis surveyed saw lockdown’s silver linings

Publicly released: Fri 2 Apr 2021 at 0500 AEDT, 0700 NZDT

PLOS One

More time with the kids, less money spent on unnecessary things, and finding new hobbies were some of the benefits of the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown identified in a survey ... Participants were asked Read more about Two-thirds of Kiwis surveyed saw lockdown’s silver linings

Are preprint medical studies eroding public trust in science?

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

Current Medical Research and Opinion

research data, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Especially during the COVID-19 health crisis, medical researchers have felt significant pressure to publish COVID-19 findings Read more about Are preprint medical studies eroding public trust in science?

Dr Anthony S. Fauci to deliver UNSW’s David Cooper Lecture

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

30pm. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating in the USA, Dr Anthony S. ... As the world struggles to emerge from COVID-19, Dr Fauci will discuss the past, the present and the future – from Read more about Dr Anthony S. Fauci to deliver UNSW’s David Cooper Lecture

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for pregnant women and new mums

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 0930 AEDT, 1130 NZDT

The Lancet Global Health

All of the studies compared pregnancy outcomes during and before the pandemic, but studies that focused solely on SARS-CoV-2 infected women were excluded. ... The COVID-19 pandemic has widened this gap Read more about The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for pregnant women and new mums

EXPERT REACTION: NZ’s most Covid-vulnerable areas

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Kiwi researchers have created a map of the country showing each region’s vulnerability to Covid-19. ... They took into account Covid-19 risk factors like age, population density, and long-term health Read more about EXPERT REACTION: NZ’s most Covid-vulnerable areas

News reports turn older Covid victims into ‘casualties of conflict’

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online

Scientists analysing media reports say that COVID-19 has made the deaths of older New Zealanders newsworthy. ... They say it’s a departure from the typical sentiment 'if it bleeds it leads', which sees Read more about News reports turn older Covid victims into ‘casualties of conflict’

Common heart and blood pressure drugs do not worsen COVID-19 and may actually help

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

UK scientists shave brought together the data from 52 previous studies, including a total of 101,949 COVID-19 patients, to see how the common heart and blood pressure ... The researchers found no Read more about Common heart and blood pressure drugs do not worsen COVID-19 and may actually help

US$1.28 trillion: The stark economic carnage of biological invasions threatening the world

Publicly released: Thu 1 Apr 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

Nature

is being done because the impact isn’t well-recognised by decision-makers and the public. ... Emerging diseases such as COVID-19 were not included in these already staggering amounts. Read more about US$1.28 trillion: The stark economic carnage of biological invasions threatening the world

Superspreading fuelled NZ’s Covid-19 outbreak

Publicly released: Wed 31 Mar 2021 at 1145 AEDT, 1345 NZDT

PLOS One

One in five New Zealand adults with Covid-19 were responsible for up to 85 per cent of the virus’ transmission. ... That’s according to researchers who have analysed the virus’s spread through the Read more about Superspreading fuelled NZ’s Covid-19 outbreak

Smokers want to quit to help the health system during COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 31 Mar 2021 at 1000 AEDT, 1200 NZDT

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

It’s always a good time to quit, but COVID-19 is making smokers think about doing it sooner rather than later. ... According to a new study from The George Institute for Global Health, many smokers want Read more about Smokers want to quit to help the health system during COVID-19

Coughing can create 100 times more aerosol particles, putting healthcare workers at risk

Publicly released: Wed 31 Mar 2021 at 0901 AEDT, 1101 NZDT

Anaesthesia

The study set out to examine whether oxygen therapies used for patients with severe COVID-19 produce large amounts of small respiratory particles called aerosols, which can transmit virus and can Read more about Coughing can create 100 times more aerosol particles, putting healthcare workers at risk

Privacy trumped other rights during pandemic in NZ

Publicly released: Wed 31 Mar 2021 at 0300 AEDT, 0500 NZDT

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Researchers say the Covid-19 pandemic showed how New Zealand is stuck in the 19th century when it comes to privacy in disasters. ... The authors compare NZ’s response to Taiwan’s, where technology is Read more about Privacy trumped other rights during pandemic in NZ

Release of the report on the Wuhan field visit on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Publicly released: Wed 31 Mar 2021 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

The report on the Wuhan field visit January 12 - February 10 on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus will be published at 2am AEDT Wed 31 March. ... March 30, the report on the Wuhan field visit January 12 Read more about Release of the report on the Wuhan field visit on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Mystery of photosynthetic algae evolution finally solved

Publicly released: Tue 30 Mar 2021 at 1330 AEDT, 1530 NZDT

Nature Communications

An evolutionary mystery that had eluded molecular biologists for decades may never have been solved if it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic. ... And the deal between the organisms is sort of like, Read more about Mystery of photosynthetic algae evolution finally solved