Resources for Journalists

3 COVID-19 mRNA jabs better than 2 for avoiding hospital, but booster benefits wane with time

Publicly released: Sat 24 Sep 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA

US scientists say having a third 'booster' dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine cuts hospitalisation risk compared with having just two jabs, but the difference wanes over time. ... Odds of Hospitalization Read more about 3 COVID-19 mRNA jabs better than 2 for avoiding hospital, but booster benefits wane with time

Could some foods prime your immune system against COVID-19?

Publicly released: Fri 23 Sep 2022 at 1400 AEST, 1600 NZST

Frontiers in Immunology

The team say that all of these substances contain proteins that are in some ways similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins, and exposure to them may train our immune ... The team found that antibodies that Read more about Could some foods prime your immune system against COVID-19?

In the year after COVID-19, you're at increased risk neurological problems

Publicly released: Fri 23 Sep 2022 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Nature Medicine

People who survive a COVID-19 infection are at increased risk of a long list of neurological complications in the year after their infection, according to international researchers. ... The team measured Read more about In the year after COVID-19, you're at increased risk neurological problems

Is there a link between COVID-19 infection and type 1 diabetes in young people?

Publicly released: Fri 23 Sep 2022 at 1032 AEST, 1232 NZST

European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting

Spanish and Portuguese – see belowTesting positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is associated with an increased risk of new-onset type 1 diabetes in children and ... SARS-CoV-2—the Read more about Is there a link between COVID-19 infection and type 1 diabetes in young people?

Triple COVID-19 jabs 61% effective against symptomatic Omicron, 95% against severe disease

Publicly released: Fri 23 Sep 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

Canadian and US scientists looked at data from 134,435 Canadians, and say being triple vaxxed against COVID-19 is 61% effective against symptomatic Omicron infection, and 95% effective against Read more about Triple COVID-19 jabs 61% effective against symptomatic Omicron, 95% against severe disease

‘Magic Glasses’ a cheap weapon in the battle against intestinal worms

Publicly released: Thu 22 Sep 2022 at 2000 AEST, 2200 NZST

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific.

To help combat this, a team of researchers from ANU, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, and the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) Read more about ‘Magic Glasses’ a cheap weapon in the battle against intestinal worms

Long COVID may be an autoimmune disease

Publicly released: Thu 22 Sep 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

European Respiratory Journal

The team recruited 106 people who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 22 healthy volunteers and 34 people who had experienced a non-COVID respiratory infection for comparison. ... Nearly 80% of the Read more about Long COVID may be an autoimmune disease

Birds of different feathers didn't flock together during lockdown

Publicly released: Wed 21 Sep 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Avian behaviour changes in response to human activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Birds interact with humans in complex Read more about Birds of different feathers didn't flock together during lockdown

Using AI to see how COVID-19 might evolve

Publicly released: Tue 20 Sep 2022 at 0918 AEST, 1118 NZST

Cell

A team of international researchers, including a New Zealander, has developed a high-tech method to explore the possibilities of how the Covid-19 virus could evolve. ... The team took proteins from the Read more about Using AI to see how COVID-19 might evolve

A face mask that can tell you if there's COVID-19 in the air

Publicly released: Tue 20 Sep 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Matter

Respiratory pathogens that cause COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza spread through small droplets and aerosols released by infected people when they talk, cough, and sneeze. ... In their proof-of-concept design, Read more about A face mask that can tell you if there's COVID-19 in the air

Most food delivery riders don’t cut corners when it comes to safety

Publicly released: Mon 19 Sep 2022 at 1008 AEST, 1208 NZST

Accident Analysis and Prevention

There has been enormous growth in the gig economy and the home delivery of meals – which was particularly accelerated during the COVID-19 lockdowns, not just in Australia, but around the Read more about Most food delivery riders don’t cut corners when it comes to safety

Already vulnerable children likely suffered COVID-19-related setbacks with their schooling

Publicly released: Mon 19 Sep 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Australian Journal of Social Issues

Children who were already vulnerable to falling behind at school likely saw their challenges with education exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Aussie experts. ... health services, Read more about Already vulnerable children likely suffered COVID-19-related setbacks with their schooling

WHO strongly advises against antibody treatments for COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 16 Sep 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

The BMJ

These drugs work by binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, neutralising the virus’s ability to infect cells. ... on the management of covid-19 and help doctors make better decisions with their patients Read more about WHO strongly advises against antibody treatments for COVID-19

Video-based programme helped kids cut the kilos during lockdown

Publicly released: Fri 16 Sep 2022 at 0801 AEST, 1001 NZST

60th Annual European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Meeting

The multi-component, educational programme tackled food choices, meal quantities and physical activity during 12 months of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Germany. ... The restrictions imposed Read more about Video-based programme helped kids cut the kilos during lockdown

Was there a COVID-19 RAT test performance drop during the omicron outbreak?

Publicly released: Thu 15 Sep 2022 at 1500 AEST, 1700 NZST

The BMJ

Based on these findings, they say people with covid-19 symptoms can rely on a positive rapid antigen test result irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 variant dominance or method of ... of the general public are Read more about Was there a COVID-19 RAT test performance drop during the omicron outbreak?

New well-being tool heralded for helping children’s mental health

Publicly released: Thu 15 Sep 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Half of all mental health conditions start in childhood, with COVID-19 lockdowns exacerbating or triggering symptoms. ... Ms Peterson said many Prep to Grade 2 students, in particular, were displaying Read more about New well-being tool heralded for helping children’s mental health

Health leader honoured by bacteria naming

Publicly released: Tue 13 Sep 2022 at 1200 AEST, 1400 NZST

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

of the COVID-19 pandemic. ... We decided to name the new bacteria after Nicola because she led a science-based strategy to manage the pandemic in South Australia to prevent COVID-19 from spreading before Read more about Health leader honoured by bacteria naming

Experts say access to late terminations in Queensland is vital

Publicly released: Mon 12 Sep 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

The most frequent fetal indications for late termination were neurological abnormalities (110 of 305, 36%), aneuploidy or genetic syndromes (67, 22%), and cardiac malformations (59, 19%). ... Equity of Read more about Experts say access to late terminations in Queensland is vital

COVID-19 jabs and boosters are safe for pregnant and lactating people

Publicly released: Fri 9 Sep 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

4%) of whom were lactating, suggests that COVID-19 boosters or third doses are well tolerated by people who are pregnant and lactating. ... The authors say data on COVID-19 vaccine boosters are Read more about COVID-19 jabs and boosters are safe for pregnant and lactating people

COVID-19 jabs with boosters should keep you out of hospital

Publicly released: Fri 9 Sep 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Internal Medicine

When Omicron was the dominant variant in the USA during the early months of 2022 from January to April, COVID-19-associated hospitalisation rates were 10. ... The scientists say this is yet more evidence Read more about COVID-19 jabs with boosters should keep you out of hospital