Resources for Journalists

Having a baby is getting more expensive in Queensland

Publicly released: Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

Medical Journal of Australia

It found that the demographic characteristics of women giving birth is markedly changing and the cost of care is becoming unsustainable. ... As health care spending changes in the wake of the coronavirus Read more about Having a baby is getting more expensive in Queensland

Remote work, reduced pay: are we willing to make a trade?

Publicly released: Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 1335 AEDT | 1535 NZDT

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to reshape the workforce, with almost half of Australian workers willing to sacrifice part of their annual salary to work from home. ... It’s clear that COVID-19 has Read more about Remote work, reduced pay: are we willing to make a trade?

$48 billion spent on Australia's COVID-19 response

Publicly released: Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

The report estimates the amount spent from the financial year 2019-2020 to 2021-2022, and says spending on COVID-19 represented 72% of total funds spent on health. ... The Australian Institute of Health Read more about $48 billion spent on Australia's COVID-19 response

EXPERT REACTION: Millennials are driving Australia's declining mental health status

Publicly released: Tue 28 Nov 2023 at 0700 AEDT | 0900 NZDT

PNAS

That’s a very difficult question to answer,” said consultant psychiatrist and senior author Professor Nick Glozier, Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Sydney. ... lack of Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Millennials are driving Australia's declining mental health status

Nurturing connection at Murdoch’s International Café

Publicly released: Mon 27 Nov 2023 at 1838 AEDT | 2038 NZDT

Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association

The “post-COVID-19” period witnessed a resurgence of international students arriving in Western Australia. ... As Murdoch University continues to refine and expand these programs, the positive impact Read more about Nurturing connection at Murdoch’s International Café

EXPERT REACTION: Should we be concerned about the rise in respiratory illnesses in China?

Publicly released: Fri 24 Nov 2023 at 1320 AEDT | 1520 NZDT

China is currently seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children, according to the World Health Organization. ... The WHO this week made an official request to Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Should we be concerned about the rise in respiratory illnesses in China?

Fractional COVID-19 booster vaccines produce similar immune response as full-doses

Publicly released: Fri 24 Nov 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

The study is the first of its kind to assess and compare COVID-19 vaccines widely used in low- and middle-income countries. ... Fractional dosing may improve COVID-19 booster acceptability and uptake and Read more about Fractional COVID-19 booster vaccines produce similar immune response as full-doses

Getting vaxxed before you catch COVID may help you avoid long COVID

Publicly released: Thu 23 Nov 2023 at 1432 AEDT | 1632 NZDT

The BMJ

The effectiveness of covid-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe complications of acute covid-19 are already known, but their effectiveness against long covid is less clear because Read more about Getting vaxxed before you catch COVID may help you avoid long COVID

Numbers speak louder than words when communicating uncertainty in statistics

Publicly released: Wed 22 Nov 2023 at 1101 AEDT | 1301 NZDT

Royal Society Open Science

A study with more than 10,000 participants across 12 countries revealed that stating uncertainty as a numeric range slightly decreased trust in COVID statistics compared to when no uncertainty was Read more about Numbers speak louder than words when communicating uncertainty in statistics

Sales data could help improve disease surveillance

Publicly released: Wed 22 Nov 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Communications

weather data, to predict weekly deaths from respiratory diseases, such as the flu and bronchitis. ... The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of producing accurate forecasts of respiratory Read more about Sales data could help improve disease surveillance

Turning back the clock on brains aged by COVID

Publicly released: Wed 22 Nov 2023 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Nature Aging

We found COVID-19 accelerates the presence of ‘zombie’ or senescent cells, which accumulate naturally and gradually in the brain as we get older,” Dr Aguado said. ... rejuvenated the brain and Read more about Turning back the clock on brains aged by COVID

1060 million people with ‘other’ musculoskeletal disorders by 2050

Publicly released: Mon 20 Nov 2023 at 1601 AEDT | 1801 NZDT

The Lancet Rheumatology

across 204 countries and territories to measure the prevalence, years of life lived with disability and population data to identify the 2050 projection. ... A factor which may add to the projection of Read more about 1060 million people with ‘other’ musculoskeletal disorders by 2050

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschool kids a mixed bag

Publicly released: Fri 17 Nov 2023 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

Canadian scientists say preschool kids exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country have better problem-solving skills and fine movement skills compared with kids who grew up before the Read more about Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschool kids a mixed bag

Assessing climate change impacts on Torres Strait fisheries

Publicly released: Thu 16 Nov 2023 at 1201 AEDT | 1401 NZDT

3 tonnes. Real gross value of production of tropical rock lobster in the Torres Strait has varied in recent years due to COVID, and reached $16. ... This project is only possible given the long time Read more about Assessing climate change impacts on Torres Strait fisheries

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

EXPERT REACTION: Optus network outage

Publicly released: Wed 8 Nov 2023 at 1143 AEDT | 1343 NZDT

Optus customers have been unable to make calls or use the internet since 4am AEDT on the morning of Wednesday Nov 8th due to a major outage. ... This is affecting hospitals, public transport and Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Optus network outage

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