Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. COVID-19 vaccinations likely averted 2.5 million deaths between 2020 and 2024

    Publicly released: Sat 26 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Health Forum

    Between 2020 and 2024, international researchers estimate that COVID-19 vaccinations averted 2. ... Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 2020-2024About The Study: Read more about COVID-19 vaccinations likely averted 2.5 million deaths between 2020 and 2024

    InternationalStanford University School of Medicine, USA

  2. Scuba diving industry benefits locals and marine life

    Publicly released: Sat 26 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    Cell Reports Sustainability

    The team says this revenue helps local economies, and supports marine conservation efforts via raising funds and increasing public awareness. ... focus on post-COVID-19 pandemic trends. Read more about Scuba diving industry benefits locals and marine life

    Australia; International; QLDJames Cook University | University of British Columbia, Canada

  3. Australian data confirm link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle changes

    Publicly released: Wed 23 Jul 2025 at 1639 AEST, 1839 NZST

    Vaccine

    increase to menstrual cycles presentations in women and premenopausal people following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, validating what many people who menstruate suspected during the pandemicThe research Read more about Australian data confirm link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle changes

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) | The University of Melbourne

  4. If you feel like the COVID-19 pandemic aged you, you might be right

    Publicly released: Wed 23 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    Nature Communications

    Brain ageing sped up during the COVID-19 pandemic even for people who didn't have the virus, according to a UK study. ... Neuroscience: COVID pandemic linked to faster brain ageing in UK adultsRates of Read more about If you feel like the COVID-19 pandemic aged you, you might be right

    InternationalNational Institute for Health Research, UK

  5. Children who get their first smartphone before age 13 face higher mental health risks

    Publicly released: Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

    Journal of Human Development and Capabilities

    Our data indicate that early smartphone ownership—and the social media access it often brings—is linked with a profound shift in mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood,” says lead Read more about Children who get their first smartphone before age 13 face higher mental health risks

    InternationalSapien Labs, USA

  6. Co-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence

    Publicly released: Mon 21 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    Nature Communications

    Endemic in bat populations, most coronaviruses never infect humans. When they do, as with the SARS, COVID-19 and MERS outbreaks, they typically spill over from bats via a bridging animal ... Dr Peel and Read more about Co-infections in young bats could underpin coronavirus emergence

    Australia; NSW; QLDThe University of Sydney | Griffith University | The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

  7. Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

    Publicly released: Sat 19 Jul 2025 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS One

    The study also explored associations between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients, as well as across different ethnic groups. ... Dr Beckmann says that while risk from COVID-19 has Read more about Low vitamin D may increase your risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19

    Australia; International; SAUniversity of South Australia | King’s College London, UK

  8. New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0939 AEST, 1139 NZST

    npj Vaccines

    A promising new COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by researchers at the Centenary Institute and the University of Sydney has shown strong potential to protect against both current and emerging Read more about New COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows strong protection against multiple variants in mouse study

    Australia; NSWCentenary Institute | The University of Sydney

  9. Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    JAMA Oncology

    Because people with cancer are especially at risk of severe COVID-19, the researchers investigated how receiving a booster vaccine before 2022 or a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine between September 2022 Read more about Cancer patients who received a COVID-19 booster vaccine were less likely to be hospitalised with the virus

    InternationalKaiser Permanente Northern California, USA

  10. EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Jul 2025 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

    New England Journal of Medicine

    There is no cure for mitochondrial disease and the only treatments available aim to manage the symptoms. ... The mitoHOPE Program would not exist were it not for the advocacy of the mito community and the Read more about EXPERT REACTION and MEDIA BRIEFING: First babies born in the UK through mitochondrial donation

    Australia; International; VICMonash University | Newcastle Fertility Centre, UK, Newcastle University, UK

  11. Telehealth works but rules need changing

    Publicly released: Wed 16 Jul 2025 at 1612 AEST, 1812 NZST

    Health & Social Care in the Community

    researchers. With its services skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth – where medical services are delivered by phone or video call – has become a mainstay of healthcare systems in Read more about Telehealth works but rules need changing

    Australia; SAFlinders University | The University of Adelaide

  12. Most high-risk mental health calls to 1737 come from women and teens

    Publicly released: Fri 11 Jul 2025 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    New Zealand Medical Journal

    The 1737 mental health helpline saw contact surges during major national events like COVID-19 lockdowns and the Christchurch mosque attacks. ... The team says this is in line with research showing women Read more about Most high-risk mental health calls to 1737 come from women and teens

    New ZealandAUT University | Whakarongorau Aotearoa | New Zealand Telehealth Services,

  13. Global vaccine stockpiles prevented more than 5.8 million cases

    Publicly released: Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 1152 AEST, 1352 NZST

    BMJ Global Health

    Routine vaccine coverage is declining due to many factors including vaccine hesitancy and funding cuts for organisations like USAID and Gavi, and in many places gaps in coverage due to ... 19 disruptions Read more about Global vaccine stockpiles prevented more than 5.8 million cases

    Australia; VICBurnet Institute | Monash University | The University of Melbourne

  14. Long COVID and chronic fatigue may share features in common

    Publicly released: Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 1646 AEST, 1846 NZST

    PNAS

    They found higher levels of oxidative stress (which damages cells) in the people with ME/CFS and long COVID than in healthy people’s cells. ... The findings suggest there are similarities between ME/CFS Read more about Long COVID and chronic fatigue may share features in common

    InternationalStanford University, USA

  15. COVID, flu & other nasties: what to expect this season and beyond

    Publicly released: Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 0600 AEST, 0800 NZST

    Lloyd is currently co-leading a study investigating how today’s newer strains of COVID-19 compare to Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). ... What if you get COVID? A/Prof. Rhee says while Read more about COVID, flu & other nasties: what to expect this season and beyond

    Australia; NSWThe University of New South Wales

  16. AI Chatbots might be helping to write more than 1 in 10 biomedical research papers

    Publicly released: Fri 4 Jul 2025 at 1059 AEST, 1259 NZST

    Science Advances

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies employed a framework that compared excess deaths during the pandemic with pre-COVID fatalities to deduce SAR-CoV-2’s impact on mortality. ... They also examined the Read more about AI Chatbots might be helping to write more than 1 in 10 biomedical research papers

    InternationalUniversity of Tübingen, Germany

  17. Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

    Publicly released: Thu 3 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The BMJ

    Disrupted care during the COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp increases in other causes of illness and death, particularly mental health disorders, malaria in young children, and stroke and heart disease Read more about Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by COVID-19 disruption

    InternationalZhejiang University School of Medicine, China

  18. Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

    JAMA Network Open

    COVID-19 and Cognitive Change in a Community-Based CohortAbout The Study: This cohort study of older participants found accelerated decreases in cognition among individuals hospitalized for Read more about Severe COVID-19 may accelerate cognitive decline in older people

    InternationalMayo Clinic, USA, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, USA

  19. Life expectancy in Australia is still far from equal

    Publicly released: Tue 1 Jul 2025 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet

    However, although there was a narrowing of the gap in life expectancy across socioeconomic groups from the late 2010s onwards, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women reversed this ... Study lead Read more about Life expectancy in Australia is still far from equal

    Australia; VIC; ACTThe Australian National University | The University of Melbourne

  20. More Aussies were hospitalised due to their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Publicly released: Mon 30 Jun 2025 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

    Drug and Alcohol Review

    The number of Australians who were hospitalised or died as a result of their alcohol consumption increased over the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during mid-late 2020, according to Australian research Read more about More Aussies were hospitalised due to their drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Australia; NSW; VIC; WA; TAS; ACTNational Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) ...

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