Resources for Journalists

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus strain, that has not been previously identified in humans. See below for a collection of resources to help you cover this issue (Please note: additional resources are available to journalists who are logged in).

The AusSMC also issues a daily COVID-19 update for registered journalists (click here to view an example). If you would like to receive this email, please go to your profile on MyScimex and select yes beside "Receive COVID-19 Updates?". The email update and this resources page are supported by the Google News Initiative.

Latest COVID-19 news, research, expert reactions and briefings

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  1. Gen Z and Millennials drove recent drop in alcohol use

    Publicly released: Tue 22 Sep 2026 at 0700 AEST, 0900 NZST

    Annals of Internal Medicine

    Researchers from the US say that, after a peak during and just after COVID, alcohol use and heavy drinking have modestly reduced, with Gen Zers and Millennials likely leading the trend. ... levels during Read more about Gen Z and Millennials drove recent drop in alcohol use

    InternationalThomas Jefferson University, USA

  2. European childhood vaccination rates dropping since COVID-19

    Publicly released: Fri 18 Sep 2026 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The Lancet Regional Health – Europe

    Most of the recent declines began between 2019 and 2022, they say, during COVID-19. ... Measles and rubella vaccination showed comparatively more favourable recent trends. Most of the recent declines Read more about European childhood vaccination rates dropping since COVID-19

    InternationalUniversità Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Italy

  3. Your genes might make you more vulnerable to PTSD

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2026 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    European Journal of Psychotraumatology

    Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, with risk for the condition being shaped by both environmental and genetic factors. ... NIHR) BioResource and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Maudsley: Read more about Your genes might make you more vulnerable to PTSD

    InternationalKing’s College London, UK

  4. EXPERT REACTION: Investigation claims the USA hushed up COVID-19 vaccine safety algorithm flaws

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2026 at 0830 AEST, 1030 NZST

    The BMJ

    knowingly relied on a compromised algorithm to detect signals of harm from mRNA covid-19 vaccines and silenced efforts to fix it, finds an investigation published by The BMJ today. ... Before rolling out Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Investigation claims the USA hushed up COVID-19 vaccine safety algorithm flaws

    InternationalBMJ Group

  5. New clues link Long COVID and POTS

    Publicly released: Thu 17 Sep 2026 at 0530 AEST, 0730 NZST

    Journal of the American Heart Association

    It’s an important finding that could help explain some of the symptoms experienced by people with Long COVID and importantly help clinicians better diagnose, assess and treat POTS. ... Recognising the Read more about New clues link Long COVID and POTS

    Australia; SAAdelaide University | South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) ...

  6. Social isolation in Australia has nearly doubled over two decades

    Publicly released: Tue 15 Sep 2026 at 0000 AEST, 0200 NZST

    International Journal of Epidemiology

    The findings suggest that Australians are having fewer social connections and interactions than in previous years. ... Findings from multiple sensitivity analyses showed that the overall trends were Read more about Social isolation in Australia has nearly doubled over two decades

    Australia; NSWThe University of Sydney

  7. New ‘smart’ nanoparticles could help the immune system better attack tumours, study in mice suggests

    Publicly released: Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    Science Advances

    The same technology used to deliver mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines is being used to target a type of immune cell that can help tumours evade the body's defences. ... The findings have been published in Science Read more about New ‘smart’ nanoparticles could help the immune system better attack tumours, study in mice suggests

    Australia; SAAdelaide University

  8. Muscle matters: simple scan could predict heart surgery risks

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Sep 2026 at 1457 AEST, 1657 NZST

    There is strong reason to expect this will be a valid prognostic biomarker with recent studies in COVID-19 patients linking muscle size to pulmonary complications and recovery outcomes. ... The project is Read more about Muscle matters: simple scan could predict heart surgery risks

    Australia; SAAdelaide University | Calvary Adelaide Hospital

  9. How the COVID-19 vaccines work to prevent severe COVID-19

    Publicly released: Wed 2 Sep 2026 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS Medicine

    When we get a COVID-19 vaccination, the antibodies we produce work to prevent severe COVID-19 and are likely more effective than antibody therapies, according to Australian research. ... The researchers Read more about How the COVID-19 vaccines work to prevent severe COVID-19

    Australia; NSW; VICKirby Institute, UNSW Sydney | The University of New South Wales ...

  10. Research offers new approach to vaccine design for broader immunity

    Publicly released: Thu 27 Aug 2026 at 1252 AEST, 1452 NZST

    Like many viruses, SARS-CoV-2 – the Covid virus – changes frequently with multiple different circulating strains globally,” says Dr Isabelle Montgomerie, a postdoctoral researcher in the Connor Read more about Research offers new approach to vaccine design for broader immunity

    New ZealandMalaghan Institute of Medical Research

  11. Scientists can now model NZ's winter illnesses in real time

    Publicly released: Wed 19 Aug 2026 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    Royal Society Open Science

    In a new paper, NZ and Australian scientists explain how they combined national COVID data with RSV and flu numbers from hospital surveillance, to study trends and provide weekly forecasts of Read more about Scientists can now model NZ's winter illnesses in real time

    Australia; New ZealandUniversity of Canterbury | The University of Melbourne ...

  12. 1.7 million Australians are unprotected against measles

    Publicly released: Mon 17 Aug 2026 at 1608 AEST, 1808 NZST

    ANZJPH

    3%, meaning that almost 7 in every 100 Australians were unlikely to have sufficient protection against measles if exposed to the virus in 2019. ... Importantly, population immunity may now be slightly Read more about 1.7 million Australians are unprotected against measles

    Australia; New Zealand; NSW; ACTNational Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) ...

  13. Ask Reddit: what women really want to know about the Tdap vaccine

    Publicly released: Thu 13 Aug 2026 at 0400 AEST, 0600 NZST

    PLOS Global Public Health

    get the flu, TDAP, and Covid vaccines… I view a newborn getting whooping cough or a fever more severe than me eating deli meat. ... S. (especially since only English-language posts could be included in Read more about Ask Reddit: what women really want to know about the Tdap vaccine

    InternationalPurdue University, USA

  14. High res images of the sun may reveal what powers solar flares

    Publicly released: Thu 6 Aug 2026 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    Nature

    This region is known to be dynamic and complex, with many factors such as magnetic field and convection currents shaping the organization of the atmosphere. ... In the new high-resolution images, the Read more about High res images of the sun may reveal what powers solar flares

    InternationalNational Solar Observatory, USA

  15. Mental health support in schools is important for disaster recovery, study finds

    Publicly released: Wed 5 Aug 2026 at 0901 AEST, 1101 NZST

    Royal Society Open Science

    Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy helped children who had experienced natural disasters and human-made disasters like war. ... A wider range of wellbeing-related and behavioural strategies Read more about Mental health support in schools is important for disaster recovery, study finds

    InternationalUniversity of Leeds, UK

  16. EXPERT REACTION: Kids who start social media earlier may do worse at school

    Publicly released: Tue 4 Aug 2026 at 0100 AEST, 0300 NZST

    Nature Human Behaviour

    The authors speculate that these differences may be attributable to excessive social media engagement and disruptions to pupils’ attention. ... The authors note that, in this study, 0. 2 standard Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Kids who start social media earlier may do worse at school

    InternationalUniversity of Milano-Bicocca, Italy

  17. The lightbulb moment behind a potential antiviral advance

    Publicly released: Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 1317 AEST, 1517 NZST

    Nature Communications

    An unexpected observation by a University of Queensland researcher could lead to a new treatment for deadly infectious diseases including COVID‑19, pneumonia in infants and children,or viral Read more about The lightbulb moment behind a potential antiviral advance

    Australia; QLDThe University of Queensland | Assiut University, University of Helsinki, Medical University of Gdansk, Finnish Food Authority. The Francis Crick Institute, Imperial College London, Myricx Bio, i-Synapse

  18. Acute pancreatitis on the rise in South Australia, with shift in who is at risk

    Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 1313 AEST, 1513 NZST

    Pancreatology

    Alcohol‑related pancreatitis accounted for a smaller proportion overall, with researchers observing only a brief spike during the COVID‑19 pandemic, thereafter returning to pre‑pandemic levels. Read more about Acute pancreatitis on the rise in South Australia, with shift in who is at risk

    Australia; SAFlinders University | The University of New South Wales ...

  19. Vitamin B3 treatment may halt severity of rare genetic disease

    Publicly released: Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 0001 AEST, 0201 NZST

    Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease

    Researchers believe vitamin B3 may help support energy-producing pathways. Affected children are often born healthy, but common childhood illnesses such as influenza or COVID-19 can trigger sudden Read more about Vitamin B3 treatment may halt severity of rare genetic disease

    Australia; VICMurdoch Children's Research Institute | Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)

  20. Dealing with post-pandemic sleep issues – it’s not too late

    Publicly released: Tue 28 Jul 2026 at 1208 AEST, 1408 NZST

    Journal of Sleep Research

    pandemic, and may contribute to the fatigue commonly reported by people with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS, or ‘long COVID’). ... The high levels of both poor sleep and fatigue established during Read more about Dealing with post-pandemic sleep issues – it’s not too late

    Australia; International; QLD; SAFlinders University | James Cook University | King's College London

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