Resources for Journalists

Maternal mental health and well-being profoundly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 17 Aug 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Maternal well-being has been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a third of women experiencing significant mental health problems and ongoing fatigue and parenting stress, according to Read more about Maternal mental health and well-being profoundly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Pain is no joke in labour, but withdrawing laughing gas has no ill effects

Publicly released: Tue 16 Aug 2022 at 0840 AEST, 1040 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Women giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic have been denied nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for pain relief due to fears of virus transmission from the aerosol-generating procedure. ... Birthing women Read more about Pain is no joke in labour, but withdrawing laughing gas has no ill effects

N95 masks are better at protecting healthcare workers

Publicly released: Tue 16 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The researchers looked at COVID-19 infection rates among Swiss healthcare workers and compared them with how much risk they were exposed to and what type of mask they wore. ... About The Study: Read more about N95 masks are better at protecting healthcare workers

Long COVID could add an extra 6 months of pressure to healthcare systems

Publicly released: Sat 13 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The study of around 250,000 people found that use of the healthcare system was higher for COVID patients 6 months after the acute infection. ... The most notable reasons people sought care after COVID Read more about Long COVID could add an extra 6 months of pressure to healthcare systems

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe in pregnancy, large study confirms

Publicly released: Fri 12 Aug 2022 at 0940 AEST, 1140 NZST

The Lancet

In the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout there was low vaccine uptake among pregnant people due to concerns about data availability and vaccine safety. ... note, “These findings are Read more about COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe in pregnancy, large study confirms

Reframe the pain: reducing needle anxiety in children

Publicly released: Fri 12 Aug 2022 at 0730 AEST, 0930 NZST

European Journal of Pain

But with vaccinations becoming more regular, finding ways to help reduce needle-related fear and pain is high on the agenda. ... Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Felicity Braithwaite, says helping children Read more about Reframe the pain: reducing needle anxiety in children

Hate swabs up your nose? A new accurate saliva-based COVID-19 test could one day be in your office

Publicly released: Fri 12 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Biomedical Engineering

Australian and international researchers have developed a saliva-based COVID testing machine - that could one day make highly accurate testing available in workplaces or classrooms. ... The test takes Read more about Hate swabs up your nose? A new accurate saliva-based COVID-19 test could one day be in your office

EXPERT REACTION: New Langya virus infects 35 people in China

Publicly released: Thu 11 Aug 2022 at 1308 AEST, 1508 NZST

The virus is thought to have come from animals and causes fever, fatigue and a cough. ... So far, there is no indication that the virus is spreading from person to person. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: New Langya virus infects 35 people in China

Caught COVID-19 while pregnant? You could be at a higher risk of severe illness

Publicly released: Thu 11 Aug 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

JACC: Advances

Pregnant Women are at Increased Risk of Severe Illness, Complications from COVID-19Vaccination and vigilance in care critical to ensuring safe pregnancy and birth in the COVID-19 eraWASHINGTON Read more about Caught COVID-19 while pregnant? You could be at a higher risk of severe illness

Analysis of research since 1970 reveals increasing productivity and worldwide gender gap

Publicly released: Thu 11 Aug 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Between 2010 and 2020, they say the yearly number of publications increased every year, but the number dropped in 2020, potentially reflecting the impact of COVID-19. ... However, the overall number of Read more about Analysis of research since 1970 reveals increasing productivity and worldwide gender gap

Should you mix and match your COVID-19 booster vaccines?

Publicly released: Thu 11 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Network Open

The Johnson & Johnson booster also seemed to generate a better Omicron-specific T-cell response. ... The authors say this suggests that there may be some immune benefits of mixing-and-matching COVID-19 Read more about Should you mix and match your COVID-19 booster vaccines?

The mystery gene which helps mice survive virus infections

Publicly released: Thu 11 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature

The findings in mice, published in Nature today, provide new information about how the immune system is regulated, and have potential ramifications for the treatment of virus infections that can lead Read more about The mystery gene which helps mice survive virus infections

Mapping the risk of the next COVID-19 in Southeast Asian bats

Publicly released: Wed 10 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

International scientists have developed an approach to estimate and map the risk of potential SARS-related coronaviruses spreading from bats to humans in Southeast Asia. ... Cecilia Sánchez, Peter Daszak Read more about Mapping the risk of the next COVID-19 in Southeast Asian bats

Getting COVID-19 patients to hold their breath could help find those most at risk

Publicly released: Mon 8 Aug 2022 at 0300 AEST, 0500 NZST

Respirology

People with higher breath holding risk scores were almost five times more at risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes. ... The authors say breath-holding may help identify COVID-19 patients at risk of future Read more about Getting COVID-19 patients to hold their breath could help find those most at risk

Myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is typically mild and self-resolving in Aussie teens

Publicly released: Mon 8 Aug 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

Aussie teens who developed the heart condition myocarditis following their COVID-19 vaccine generally had mild symptoms and recovered without major treatment, according to a study of teens presenting Read more about Myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is typically mild and self-resolving in Aussie teens

Immune boosting benefits of tuberculosis vaccine seen in infants more than a year after vaccination

Publicly released: Sat 6 Aug 2022 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

Science Advances

BRACE is testing whether the vaccine can protect those exposed to SARS-CoV-2 from developing severe symptoms by boosting their frontline immunity. ... Researchers from the University of Melbourne, The Read more about Immune boosting benefits of tuberculosis vaccine seen in infants more than a year after vaccination

As the planet heats up, unfit kids are set to suffer

Publicly released: Fri 5 Aug 2022 at 1401 AEST, 1601 NZST

Temperature

over the last 30 years, and, of course, the increase in sedentary behaviour that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. ... Physical inactivity was accelerated, especially in Europe, during the Covid-19 Read more about As the planet heats up, unfit kids are set to suffer

1 in 8 COVID-19 patients may develop long COVID symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 5 Aug 2022 at 1015 AEST, 1215 NZST

The Lancet

One in eight adults (12. 7%) who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience long term symptoms due to COVID-19, suggests a large Dutch study published in The Lancet. ... Furthermore, due to the timing of Read more about 1 in 8 COVID-19 patients may develop long COVID symptoms

Small study suggests 1-in-40 COVID-19 patients still can't taste or smell 2 years later

Publicly released: Fri 5 Aug 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

A study of 119 COVID-19 patients who reported alterations to their sense of taste and smell as an initial symptom of the disease found three patients (2. ... Overall, among a larger group of 174 patients, Read more about Small study suggests 1-in-40 COVID-19 patients still can't taste or smell 2 years later

Saliva just as good as nose swab for COVID-19 lab testing

Publicly released: Fri 5 Aug 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

NZMJ

Researchers used both tests on nearly 200 people across the country, finding the saliva tests detected 91% of positive Covid-19 cases, while the nose swabs detected 93%. ... Overall, the COVID-19 virus Read more about Saliva just as good as nose swab for COVID-19 lab testing