Resources for Journalists

Aussie health report card shows almost half of us have a chronic health condition

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

This has shown that, despite a rise in the use of mental health services and an increase in psychological distress, COVID-19 has not been associated with a rise in suspected ... This measure includes both Read more about Aussie health report card shows almost half of us have a chronic health condition

Hospital readmissions for asthma on the rise among children

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Journal of Asthma

2 per cent. Of the 767 participants, 20. 6 per cent were readmitted once and 13. ... Dr Chen said there had also been a recent spike in asthma admissions due to the rise in respiratory infections and Read more about Hospital readmissions for asthma on the rise among children

What was it like to be an elite athlete stuck in a COVID-19 hub?

Publicly released: Wed 6 Jul 2022 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

PLOS ONE

Life was tough for many athletes who went into the Womens National Basketball League (WNBL) hub for the COVID-19 affected 2020 season. ... virus. The researchers say the women reported feeling both Read more about What was it like to be an elite athlete stuck in a COVID-19 hub?

Most British COVID-19 mourners suffer PTSD symptoms

Publicly released: Tue 5 Jul 2022 at 0950 AEST, 1150 NZST

British Journal of Guidance and Counselling

Counsellors in the UK should be alert to a broad band of pandemic-related psychological distress in people who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, and not concentrate solely ... The full paper, ‘Grief Read more about Most British COVID-19 mourners suffer PTSD symptoms

EXPERT REACTION: Flooding hits Sydney and NSW

Publicly released: Mon 4 Jul 2022 at 1130 AEST, 1330 NZST

There are multiple evacuation warnings and orders in place affecting around 30,000 people. ... The Bureau of Meteorology says that localised heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding remains Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Flooding hits Sydney and NSW

Spectacular success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines just a glimpse of their full potential

Publicly released: Mon 4 Jul 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Medical Journal of Australia

mRNA vaccine development will continue to accelerate, spurred on by the success of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and further improvements to the technology may mitigate some of the current limitations and Read more about Spectacular success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines just a glimpse of their full potential

EXPERT REACTION: Australia is about to reach 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 1530 AEST, 1730 NZST

COVID-19 deaths in Australia are expected to reach 10,000 in the coming week. ... Over three-quarters of these deaths have occurred in 2022, and we are only halfway through the year. Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Australia is about to reach 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

Housing quality can have a big impact when you're working from home

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 1100 AEST, 1300 NZST

Cities

A survey of nearly 800 New Zealanders working from home shows their housing quality is linked to how well they can do their job during a COVID-19 lockdown. ... Things that helped people work effectively Read more about Housing quality can have a big impact when you're working from home

COVID-19 vaccine may work even if it doesn't reach the muscle

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0911 AEST, 1111 NZST

Vaccine

New research shows standard Covid-19 vaccination needles are too short to reach the muscle tissue in some people with larger arms. ... The authors say that because obesity is a major risk factor for Read more about COVID-19 vaccine may work even if it doesn't reach the muscle

No matter your weight, COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology

Two or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation or death due to the virus no matter your weight, according to international researchers. ... Of these, 9,171,524 Read more about No matter your weight, COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness

'Extraordinary' drop in emissions during COVID-19 is what we need each year to limit warming to 1.5°C

Publicly released: Fri 1 Jul 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Geoscience

Carbon dioxide emissions fell 6. 3% during the first year of the COVID pandemic and experts say this extraordinary drop is the same size as what we need to see each ... The authors say this underscores Read more about 'Extraordinary' drop in emissions during COVID-19 is what we need each year to limit warming to 1.5°C

Stopping family violence starts with protecting our children

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 1425 AEST, 1625 NZST

An estimated 2. 2 million Australians have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15 with 3. ... as the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about Stopping family violence starts with protecting our children

EXPERT REACTION: Pfizer cleared to apply for vaccine approval for under 5s

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 1313 AEST, 1513 NZST

The TGA has granted a provisional determination to Pfizer for its COVID-19 vaccine in kids aged six months to five years. ... Provisional determination is the first step in the registration process Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Pfizer cleared to apply for vaccine approval for under 5s

Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

The BMJ

A review of 18 existing studies indicates that airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from an infectious individual to others located more than two metres away can happen in ... Since the early Read more about Ventilation key to managing risk of 'long-distance' indoor COVID-19 transmission

Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

New England Journal of Medicine

The researchers matched 130,000 recently vaccinated children with 95,000 unvaccinated controls during Israel's Omicron wave, and say one to three weeks after vaccination, protection against infection Read more about Two Pfizer doses offer 'moderate' protection against symptomatic Omicron in kids

Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

JAMA Psychiatry

Despite difficulties in estimating the overall prevalence of symptoms, the most commonly reported neurologic symptoms in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 are fatigue in 33%, sleep Read more about Mental health issues for long-COVID patients require deeper study

$79m in funding for NZ health research

Publicly released: Thu 30 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Developing non-addictive drug compounds to treat pain, reducing the burden of osteoarthritis, and investigating the impact of COVID-19 on Māori/non-Māori inequities are among the projects to be Read more about $79m in funding for NZ health research

COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

Royal Society Open Science

3 million COVID-19 infections in the US before vaccines were available, according to a modelling study by international researchers. ... Estimating the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on US SARS Read more about COVID-19 measures in the US may have avoided around 250 million infections in 2020

Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

Nature Communications

8% and 17% of COVID-19 patients, with between 1. 2% and 4. ... To investigate instances of long COVID, Ellen Thompson and colleagues used data from 6,907 individuals with self-reported COVID-19 from ten Read more about Who is most likely to get long COVID?

Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain

Publicly released: Wed 29 Jun 2022 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

Northern Queensland may be on the road to recovery from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the impacts of the virus have been put into sharp focus in a ... Many communities that avoided the first Read more about Tropics weather the COVID-19 storm but challenges remain