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Boosting the influenza vaccine schedule in children with cancer: a prospective open-label study

Current immunization guidelines recommend one dose of influenza vaccine for children aged ≥9 years and two doses for younger or vaccine-naïve children. However, children receiving chemotherapy have an attenuated immune response. We performed a prospective open-label study in children undergoing treatment for cancer at Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, to examine the safety and efficacy of a boosted influenza schedule.

Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool

Tools that can be used to collect behavioural data during pandemics are needed to inform policy and practice. The objective of this project was to develop the Your COVID-19 Risk tool in response to the global spread of COVID-19, aiming to promote health behaviour change. We developed an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading COVID-19. This tool allows for assessing risk and provides instant support to protect individuals from infection.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Strain Evolution and Mutations in Western Australia in the Context of Nirsevimab Prophylaxis

Nirsevimab is a long-acting monoclonal antibody used to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants and high-risk children. During the 2024 RSV season in Western Australia, 21 922 doses were administered to infants entering their first season and 1221 doses to at-risk children. In this context, the selection and spread of escape variants are a potential concern. This study aimed to investigate nirsevimab binding site mutations using clinical and wastewater data.

Bold bid to end rheumatic heart disease

Some of the nation’s leading medical researchers will converge on Darwin this week to step out a plan to wipe out rheumatic heart disease.

Modelling the seasonal epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus in young children

This paper describes a mathematical model used to predict when an epidemic of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will occur so that preventive measures, such...

Diverging Trends in Gastroenteritis Hospitalizations during Two Decades in Western Australian Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Children

Our findings highlight the need to consider age, ethnicity, seasonality and climate when evaluating rotavirus vaccine programs.

How Accurate Are International Classification of Diseases-10 Diagnosis Codes in Detecting Influenza and Pertussis Hospitalizations in Children?

Influenza diagnosis codes had high specificity (98.6%) and modest positive predictive value (PPV; 84.1%) and sensitivity (86.1%) for a laboratory-confirmed...

Can linked emergency department data help assess the out-of-hospital burden of acute lower respiratory infections

There is a lack of data on the out-of-hospital burden of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in developed countries.

Hospitalisation for bronchiolitis in infants is more common after elective caesarean delivery

The authors previously reported an increased risk of hospitalisation for acute lower respiratory infection up to age 2 years in children delivered by...

Use of data linkage to investigate the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infection hospitalisations in children

The aim was to document the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) hospitalisations in Western Australian children