Resources for Journalists

Pregnant women show robust and variable immunity during COVID-19

Publicly released: Wed 12 Apr 2023 at 0300 AEST | 0500 NZST

JCI Insight

New research from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) has found that pregnant women display a strong immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, comparable to that Read more about Pregnant women show robust and variable immunity during COVID-19

Around 1 in 10 pregnant Aussie women were hesitant about getting a COVID vaccine

Publicly released: Wed 12 Apr 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

BMJ Open

about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. ... The survey, which was conducted between 31 August 2021 and 1 March 2022 also found hesitancy increased over the survey period. Read more about Around 1 in 10 pregnant Aussie women were hesitant about getting a COVID vaccine

What would happen if Covid isolation was no longer mandatory in NZ?

Publicly released: Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 1300 AEST | 1500 NZST

NZ researchers used a mathematical model to figure out how the country’s rates of Covid-19 infections, hospital admissions, and deaths would change if our isolation requirements were scrapped. Read more about What would happen if Covid isolation was no longer mandatory in NZ?

Current strain of COVID-19 still seems to be more deadly than flu

Publicly released: Fri 7 Apr 2023 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)

Please credit the congress if you use this story Adults hospitalised with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant have a higher death rate than those hospitalised with seasonal influenza, even though Read more about Current strain of COVID-19 still seems to be more deadly than flu

Masks in hospitals may not have major impact on Omicron transmission

Publicly released: Fri 7 Apr 2023 at 0801 AEST | 1001 NZST

European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (EECMID)

week when the Omicron variant became dominant) and 10th September 2022 (when universal COVID-19 screening on admission by PCR stopped) to examine hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections in relation Read more about Masks in hospitals may not have major impact on Omicron transmission

Early samples from Wuhan market contained COVID-19 virus alongside animal DNA

Publicly released: Thu 6 Apr 2023 at 1015 AEST | 1215 NZST

Nature

The results of the highly anticipated study support the claim that SARS-CoV-2 was prevalent in the Huanan Seafood Market during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, although ... Although these Read more about Early samples from Wuhan market contained COVID-19 virus alongside animal DNA

How can you counteract a conspiracy theorist's beliefs?

Publicly released: Thu 6 Apr 2023 at 0400 AEST | 0600 NZST

PLOS ONE

Cian O’Mahony of University College Cork, Ireland, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on April 5. ... Evidence from prior studies suggests that belief in Read more about How can you counteract a conspiracy theorist's beliefs?

Japanese Encephalitis warning in the lead up to Easter holidays

Publicly released: Wed 5 Apr 2023 at 0001 AEST | 0201 NZST

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

A rapid review of what we know about Japanese Encephalitis (JE) outlines the serious risk that the virus poses, with residents and travellers in South-Eastern Australia only recently being exposed Read more about Japanese Encephalitis warning in the lead up to Easter holidays

Long COVID symptoms in young people could be just as common in those who haven't had COVID-19

Publicly released: Fri 31 Mar 2023 at 1015 AEDT | 1215 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Symptoms often considered to be signs of long COVID in young people could be just as common in young people who have not had the virus, according to international and Australian ... The team clinically Read more about Long COVID symptoms in young people could be just as common in those who haven't had COVID-19

Mystery rise in childhood hepatitis linked to common virus

Publicly released: Fri 31 Mar 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature

In an accompanying News & Views, Frank Tacke considers the part played by COVID-19 lockdowns. ... The wave of hepatitis in spring 2022 coincided with the relaxation of COVID-19 measures around the globe, Read more about Mystery rise in childhood hepatitis linked to common virus

The number of Aussie teens in detention or under supervision by the justice system continues to fall

Publicly released: Fri 31 Mar 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

between 2017–18 to 2021–22, while the rate of young people aged 10–17 fell by 29% (from 19 to 13 per 10,000),’ said AIHW spokesperson Amanda Donges. ... Ms Donges noted the full impact of COVID-19 Read more about The number of Aussie teens in detention or under supervision by the justice system continues to fall

Cities used to be a better place for child development, but that could be changing

Publicly released: Thu 30 Mar 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature

The NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, an international group of 1,500 researchers and physicians, collated height and weight data from 71 million young people, aged 5–19 years old, who lived Read more about Cities used to be a better place for child development, but that could be changing

COVID-19 vaccine induces robust T cell responses in blood cancer patients

Publicly released: Wed 29 Mar 2023 at 1000 AEDT | 1200 NZDT

Cell Reports Medicine

undertook the most comprehensive analysis of adaptive SARS-CoV-2 immunity to date in haematology patients of varying diseases and treatments across three doses of COVID-19 vaccination in comparison Read more about COVID-19 vaccine induces robust T cell responses in blood cancer patients

Severe respiratory infections during pregnancy associated with some congenital cardiovascular defects

Publicly released: Wed 29 Mar 2023 at 0945 AEDT | 1145 NZDT

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Impacts of COVID-19 Several other questions remain, including the impacts of COVID-19, which emerged after the study period of 2001-2016. ... So far from other studies there is no evidence that COVID-19 Read more about Severe respiratory infections during pregnancy associated with some congenital cardiovascular defects

Women, children and families bear brunt of homelessness

Publicly released: Tue 28 Mar 2023 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

The number of Queensland women and children experiencing homelessness would now be much higher than the just-released Census data due to the impact of COVID, population movement into the state, Read more about Women, children and families bear brunt of homelessness

Can't be bothered getting another COVID-19 vaccine? Would cash convince you?

Publicly released: Tue 28 Mar 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Medicine

With only around 45% of the eligible Australian population having had four or more doses of COVID-19 vaccines, it seems people may be getting tired of the repeated requests to ... The researchers found Read more about Can't be bothered getting another COVID-19 vaccine? Would cash convince you?

Having a COVID-19 booster while pregnant lowers your baby's risk

Publicly released: Fri 24 Mar 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Medicine

The team monitored COVID-19-related hospitalisations among nearly 50,000 babies born in Israel, and the vaccination records of their mums during periods of Delta and Omicron spread. ... They say for third Read more about Having a COVID-19 booster while pregnant lowers your baby's risk

People with severe COVID-19 could use Paxlovid to stop long-COVID

Publicly released: Fri 24 Mar 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

For people with COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for progression to severe disease, treatment with the antiviral medication nirmatrelvir - otherwise known as Paxlovid - within five days of a Read more about People with severe COVID-19 could use Paxlovid to stop long-COVID

What factors increase your risk of developing long-COVID?

Publicly released: Fri 24 Mar 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

The team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 41 studies including 860,000 patients to determine what risk factors were associated with long-COVID. ... g. , age and sex), comorbidities, and Read more about What factors increase your risk of developing long-COVID?