Resources for Journalists

Modelling the shift from elimination to mitigation in Aotearoa New Zealand

Publicly released: Wed 1 Feb 2023 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

to stamp out transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). ... To investigate how the traffic light system might be used to limit the health burden manage the tricky transition to living with the virus, Read more about Modelling the shift from elimination to mitigation in Aotearoa New Zealand

Computer model predicts who will recover from COVID-19

Publicly released: Tue 31 Jan 2023 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

Nature Immunology

The research revealed distinct ‘systemic recovery’ profiles, with specific progression and recovery of the inflammatory, immune cell, metabolic and clinical responses to COVID-19. ... COVID-19 Read more about Computer model predicts who will recover from COVID-19

EXPERT REACTION: WHO says pandemic is not over but in 'transition'

Publicly released: Tue 31 Jan 2023 at 1051 AEDT | 1251 NZDT

Overnight the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID pandemic is not over yet and it is still a 'public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)'. ... The WHO's advisory Read more about EXPERT REACTION: WHO says pandemic is not over but in 'transition'

COVID-19 kills young people and children too

Publicly released: Tue 31 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

COVID-19 has contributed to 2% of all deaths of under-19s in the United States throughout the pandemic, new data show. ... Various factors, including underreporting and not accounting for COVID-19’s Read more about COVID-19 kills young people and children too

Over one third of a year’s learning lost to COVID-19 pandemic

Publicly released: Tue 31 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Human Behaviour

Education: Over one third of a year’s learning lost to COVID-19 pandemic PRESS BRIEFINGDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, school-aged children experienced delays in learning progress and a loss Read more about Over one third of a year’s learning lost to COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 deaths reduced by 90% after booster dose

Publicly released: Mon 30 Jan 2023 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

Canadian Medical Association Journal

ET 90% reduction in COVID-19 deaths after booster dose: Hong Kong study A booster (third) dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was associated with a 90% reduction in death ... Booster vaccination with inactivated Read more about COVID-19 deaths reduced by 90% after booster dose

Most COVID-19 trial preprints were eventually published, and the conclusions mostly stayed the same

Publicly released: Sat 28 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

During the pandemic, preprints helped make clinical trial results available as quickly as possible, and now researchers have found that most preprints of COVID-19 clinical trials ended up being Read more about Most COVID-19 trial preprints were eventually published, and the conclusions mostly stayed the same

Children’s immune response to COVID-19: fast but doesn’t last

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jan 2023 at 1605 AEDT | 1805 NZDT

Clinical Immunology

Unlike those of adults, children’s immune systems don’t remember the virus and don’t adapt, so when they’re next exposed to SARS-CoV-2, their body still treats ... They found that children had Read more about Children’s immune response to COVID-19: fast but doesn’t last

Four doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine could give good immunity against new variants

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jan 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

NEJM

Using the Novavax vaccine as a booster could potentially provide a more universal-like response against new SARS-CoV-2 variants, according to researchers at Novavax. ... They say 4 doses produced a Read more about Four doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine could give good immunity against new variants

Bivalent vaccine generates higher antibody responses against new 'grandchildren of omicron' variants

Publicly released: Thu 26 Jan 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

4–BA. 5 variant and the original COVID-19 strain, generates a higher antibody response against the newer Omicron subvariants than the original Pfizer vaccine, according to international research. Read more about Bivalent vaccine generates higher antibody responses against new 'grandchildren of omicron' variants

Sports parent stresses emphasised during COVID-19 era

Publicly released: Wed 25 Jan 2023 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

The research - “Sport parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceptions of parents and youth in Australia”, by Sam Elliott, Aurélie Pankowiak, Rochelle Eime and Murray Drummond - has been Read more about Sports parent stresses emphasised during COVID-19 era

Coronavirus improves ability to tackle infectious diseases in Timor-Leste

Publicly released: Wed 25 Jan 2023 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia

These improvements can help Timor-Leste respond to other prevalent infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV The rapid expansion of Timor-Leste’s laboratory abilities during the Read more about Coronavirus improves ability to tackle infectious diseases in Timor-Leste

Online interaction is impacting the mood and cognitive function of young people

Publicly released: Tue 24 Jan 2023 at 0900 AEDT | 1100 NZDT

Scientific Reports

The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdowns shifted our social interactions with peers even further online, especially for young people. ... And with these face-to-face social interactions, the feedback or Read more about Online interaction is impacting the mood and cognitive function of young people

New guidelines for cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury

Publicly released: Tue 24 Jan 2023 at 0845 AEDT | 1045 NZDT

Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation

Professor Ponsford also said a major addition to the updated version of the guidelines is a new section on telerehabilitation, which was necessitated due to the COVID-19 pandemic:“In recent Read more about New guidelines for cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduce virus risk in children, serious side effects are rare

Publicly released: Tue 24 Jan 2023 at 0310 AEDT | 0510 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

Children aged 5-11 who have received two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are less likely to be infected with COVID-19 and less likely to have severe illness, ... 5 million unvaccinated children, and Read more about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduce virus risk in children, serious side effects are rare

Affordable air monitors identify ‘super-spreader’ areas in health settings

Publicly released: Mon 23 Jan 2023 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

Age and Ageing

Placing CO2 monitors in public spaces, such as hospitals, schools and aged-care facilities, could play a major role in the battle against airborne respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 and Read more about Affordable air monitors identify ‘super-spreader’ areas in health settings

We may be underestimating how much more alcohol we drank during the pandemic

Publicly released: Mon 23 Jan 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Drug and Alcohol Review

Research so far into how much our alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic may be underestimating the issue, according to Australian research. ... The participants reported their alcohol Read more about We may be underestimating how much more alcohol we drank during the pandemic

What is the best COVID policy for Australia in 2023?

Publicly released: Fri 20 Jan 2023 at 1600 AEDT | 1800 NZDT

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

respirators). Ongoing vaccinations and earlier public health measures most effective responses to future COVID-19 variants: studyOngoing vaccination and lower thresholds for escalating public health Read more about What is the best COVID policy for Australia in 2023?

How well-protected are you against COVID-19 if you've already had it and been vaccinated?

Publicly released: Thu 19 Jan 2023 at 1437 AEDT | 1637 NZDT

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

People who have both been infected with COVID-19 and vaccinated have sustained protection against hospitalisation and severe disease when going another round with the virus, according to a systematic Read more about How well-protected are you against COVID-19 if you've already had it and been vaccinated?