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Immunocompromised hosts experience more breakthrough infections and worse clinical outcomes following infection with COVID-19 than immunocompetent people. Prophylactic monoclonal antibody therapies can be challenging to access, and escape variants emerge rapidly. Immunity conferred through vaccination remains a central prevention strategy for COVID-19.
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 through to mid-2021, much of the Australian population lived in a COVID-19-free environment. This followed the broadly successful implementation of a strong suppression strategy, including international border closures. With the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in early 2021, the national government sought to transition from a state of minimal incidence and strong suppression activities to one of high vaccine coverage and reduced restrictions but with still-manageable transmission.
Influenza and COVID-19 infections during pregnancy may have serious adverse consequences for women as well as their infants. However, uptake of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy remains suboptimal. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multi-component nudge intervention to improve influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women.
Christopher Kefyalew Hannah Blyth Alene Moore MBBS (Hons) DCH FRACP FRCPA PhD BSc, MPH, PhD OAM BSc (Hons) GradDipClinEpi PhD Centre Head, Wesfarmers
A world-leading international trial examining the immune boosting benefits of the tuberculosis vaccine, BCG, has found it does not protect healthcare workers against COVID-19.
Australia’s TGA has granted a provisional determination to Pfizer, allowing the pharmaceutical company to apply for approval to extend its COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 6 mths - 4 yrs.
Western Australia’s Omicron outbreak is far from over, with new modelling showing the number of total infections is only at its half-way point.
WA’s current Omicron COVID-19 outbreak could jump by 147,000 cases if mask mandates are abandoned before the Easter long weekend, according to sophisticated new modelling.
Optimising our national Covid-19 vaccine program could be one step closer thanks to new research now underway at The Kids Research Institute Australia investigating the most effective, long-term strategies for booster vaccinations.
A study conducted across 40 WA schools has found COVID-19 testing using a combined nose and throat swab was well tolerated by children as young as 4 years.