Resources for Journalists

An Aussie is hospitalised with head injuries every four minutes

Publicly released: Thu 16 Nov 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

4% each year. Following a lull in 2019–20 due to COVID–19, head injury hospitalisation rates increased by 6. ... 8 hospitalisations per 100,000 population in 2020-21). Following a decline in 2019–20, Read more about An Aussie is hospitalised with head injuries every four minutes

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during but not before pregnancy can help protect the baby from Omicron

Publicly released: Sat 11 Nov 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

The researchers looked at Singapore's national health data to identify babies who had at least one parent infected with COVID-19 during their first six months of life, and compared ... which babies got Read more about Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during but not before pregnancy can help protect the baby from Omicron

Have COVID-19 patients who lost their taste or smell recovered after 3 years?

Publicly released: Fri 10 Nov 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

The team recruited 100 people with mild COVID-19 and 100 who hadn't had the virus and tested their ability to taste and smell, testing the COVID-19 group again ... Among COVID-19 patients, 64. 5% lost Read more about Have COVID-19 patients who lost their taste or smell recovered after 3 years?

Getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 at the same time appears to give you similar protection

Publicly released: Thu 9 Nov 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

You can probably get vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu on the same day without impacting the level of protection you get from either vaccine, according to a study from vaccine ... They say patients who Read more about Getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 at the same time appears to give you similar protection

Animal-to-human virus epidemics are rapidly becoming larger and more frequent

Publicly released: Fri 3 Nov 2023 at 0930 AEDT | 1130 NZDT

BMJ Global Health

SARS Coronavirus 1, but did not include the COVID-19 pandemic. ... The researchers focused on Filoviruses (Ebola virus, Marburg virus), SARS Coronavirus 1, Nipah virus, and Machupo virus, which causes Read more about Animal-to-human virus epidemics are rapidly becoming larger and more frequent

Climate change is harming our health but climate services save lives

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 2200 AEDT | Fri 3 Nov 2023 at 0000 NZDT

Currently, just 0. 2% of total bilateral and multilateral adaptation finance supports projects that identify health as the primary focus, and the investment in the capacity for multisectoral and Read more about Climate change is harming our health but climate services save lives

How does COVID-19 affect immunocompromised people differently?

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 1200 AEDT | 1400 NZDT

PLOS ONE

The team recruited 27 immunocompromised COVID-19 patients; 12 with blood cancers or conditions, eight with secondary immunosuppression and seven with primary or acquired immunodeficiency from Read more about How does COVID-19 affect immunocompromised people differently?

Pandemic compliance rules are confused by slow science and misinformation

Publicly released: Thu 2 Nov 2023 at 0820 AEDT | 1020 NZDT

Policy and Society

A new study in the international journal Policy and Society found gaps in knowledge about the first and subsequent COVID-19 virus prevention led to sometimes confusing government messaging, which Read more about Pandemic compliance rules are confused by slow science and misinformation

Evidence shows that masks reduce transmission in a pandemic

Publicly released: Wed 1 Nov 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Viruses that are spread by the respiratory system can lead to pandemics such as COVID-19, and face masks provide an important layer of protection. ... viruses. Robust available data support the use of Read more about Evidence shows that masks reduce transmission in a pandemic

Males’ immune response to a virus-like challenge alters their offspring’s behaviour

Publicly released: Tue 31 Oct 2023 at 1550 AEDT | 1750 NZDT

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

The researchers are calling urgently for more studies to explore what this might mean to human development and brain health in the wake of widespread COVID-19 and flu infections. ... With many men of child Read more about Males’ immune response to a virus-like challenge alters their offspring’s behaviour

How do lingering COVID-19 symptoms affect your quality of life?

Publicly released: Wed 25 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Communications

Over 250,000 people involved in a British COVID-19 study filled out a questionnaire about their experiences with the virus; with about 130,000 of the participants reporting at least ... The researchers Read more about How do lingering COVID-19 symptoms affect your quality of life?

Australian health spending up by 6% in 2021/2022

Publicly released: Wed 25 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

9%) in real terms to $84. 1 billion, which was associated with increased spending related to the pandemic, such as COVID-19 vaccines and personal protective equipment. ... 2 billion by state and territory Read more about Australian health spending up by 6% in 2021/2022

How to slow the spread of deadly ‘superbugs’

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

Nature Review Genetics

and the University of South Australia. ... The use of genomic tracing during the Covid-19 pandemic has provided insight into the potential of genomic technologies to monitor the development and spread of Read more about How to slow the spread of deadly ‘superbugs’

Common COVID-19 medications associated with small reduced risk of lingering symptoms

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

The researchers looked at post-COVID-19 conditions - COVID-19 symptoms persisting between one and three months after infection - among nearly 2 million people aged 65 and over in the US. ... 6% received Read more about Common COVID-19 medications associated with small reduced risk of lingering symptoms

COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant mothers linked to fewer serious health complications for their babies

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

JAMA Pediatrics

The researchers used Canadian health databases to compare the health of 142,006 babies, 85,670 of which were exposed to at least one COVID-19 vaccination in utero. ... death, and neonatal intensive care Read more about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant mothers linked to fewer serious health complications for their babies

Gut fungi related to severe COVID-19 could provide an opportunity for treating the virus

Publicly released: Tue 24 Oct 2023 at 0200 AEDT | 0400 NZDT

Nature Immunology

Iliyan Iliev and colleagues examined the gut mycobiota (the fungal microbiota) of 91 individuals with COVID-19 from 3 US cohorts recruited during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections. ... In mice Read more about Gut fungi related to severe COVID-19 could provide an opportunity for treating the virus

Mimics human tissue, fights bacteria: new biomaterial hits the sweet spot

Publicly released: Mon 23 Oct 2023 at 2000 AEDT | 2200 NZDT

Nature Communications

Surprise discovery in lockdownAshley Nguyen, a PhD student in the UNSW School of Chemistry and first author on the paper, made this discovery during the Covid19 lockdown using computer simulations. Read more about Mimics human tissue, fights bacteria: new biomaterial hits the sweet spot

Telehealth audiology services need to be dialled up

Publicly released: Wed 18 Oct 2023 at 1400 AEDT | 1600 NZDT

American Journal of Audiology

Despite a surge during COVID-19, the use of telehealth-supported access to audiologists is not being used to its full potential according to new research from Flinders University. ... The study – Read more about Telehealth audiology services need to be dialled up

Aged care could be beneficial for people with dementia

Publicly released: Wed 18 Oct 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

to allow the interaction between health and aged care systems to be monitored. ... Due to data availability at the time of study, changes in health and care aged care services following recent aged care Read more about Aged care could be beneficial for people with dementia