Health – Articles, Analysis, Comment – The Conversation

Vaccines alone won’t keep Australia safe in 2021. Here’s what else we need to do

Tania Sorrell, University of Sydney; Ian Frazer, The University of Queensland, and Ingrid Scheffer, The University of Melbourne

A new review from the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences says managing the pandemic into 2021 will mean persisting with the measures that have made Australia’s response successful so far.

5 tips for ventilation to reduce COVID risk at home and work

Mary-Louise McLaws, UNSW Sydney

Open windows and doors, use fans, and set your aircon to pull fresh air from outside.

A mental disorder, not a personal failure: why now is the time for Australia to rethink addiction

Dan Lubman, Monash University

Addiction remains shrouded in stigma, while the system through which we provide addiction treatment in Australia is fragmented and failing. There’s no better time to address these issues.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the University of Queensland laboratory earlier this year, ahead of today’s announcement its vaccine would not move to the next stage of clinical trials. Darren England/AAP Image

How did the University of Queensland/CSL vaccine fail due to ‘false positive’ HIV tests? A vaccine expert explains

Adam Taylor, Griffith University

If the vaccine had been widely rolled out, people would think they had HIV when they didn’t. But it’s not the end of this type of technology.

People with severe allergies warned off Pfizer COVID vaccine for now. But that may change as more details emerge

Nicholas Wood, University of Sydney and Ketaki Sharma, University of Sydney

Reports of two UK health workers having allergic reactions after receiving Pfizer’s COVID vaccine have led to safety warnings for others at risk of anaphylaxis.

Yes, the coronavirus mutates. But that shouldn’t affect the current crop of vaccines

Rebecca Rockett, University of Sydney; Alicia Arnott, University of Sydney, and Fabienne Brilot-Turville, University of Sydney

Compared with other RNA viruses, the coronavirus is actually quite stable. So don’t believe the scary headlines about the ‘mutant coronavirus’.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is the first to publish peer-reviewed efficacy results. Here’s what they tell us — and what they don’t

Kirsty Wilson, RMIT University and Magdalena Plebanski, RMIT University

The reason the vaccine appears to have worked better in participants who initially received only half a dose is still somewhat of a mystery.

China’s COVID vaccines are already being distributed. But how do they work, and where are they up to in trials?

Adam Taylor, Griffith University

At least three Chinese vaccines have been approved for emergency use, while phase 3 clinical trials are ongoing.

Has COVID cost friendships? Technology may have helped people stay connected during the pandemic

Shane Rogers, Edith Cowan University

Checking in and keeping up with our friends is an important part of maintaining relationships. During the pandemic, technology stepped in where face-to-face interactions weren’t possible.

Most women who give birth in Australia are monitored with CTG. But it might not be the best approach

Kirsten Small, Griffith University; Jennifer Fenwick, Griffith University; Jenny Gamble, Griffith University, and Mary Sidebotham, Griffith University

The evidence doesn’t necessarily support the widespread use of cardiotocography to monitor baby during labour. Women need to be aware there’s another option.

No more than 10 standard drinks a week, or 4 on any day: new guidelines urge Aussies to go easy on the booze

Kate Conigrave, University of Sydney

The guidelines are informed by a review of the best available evidence. The less you drink, the lower the risk of harm to your health.

Do I need a COVID flight clearance test to fly in Australia or overseas? And do I have to pay?

Lauren Ball, Griffith University

Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 clearances before travelling.

30% of New Zealanders are ‘vaccine sceptics’, so trust is key to COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

Claire Breen, University of Waikato

Vaccine hesitancy is not new, but it has a new element: few people can remember the devastating impact of diseases such as smallpox and polio and it is hard to see the lives saved by vaccination.

Australia needs a national approach to combat the health effects of climate change

Stephen Duckett, Grattan Institute and Will Mackey, Grattan Institute

From heatwaves to droughts to storms, climate change poses one of the biggest health threats to Australians. Yet the federal government makes no mention of it in its strategic health planning.

Tokophobia is an extreme fear of childbirth. Here’s how to recognise and treat it

Julie Jomeen, Southern Cross University; Catriona Jones, University of Hull; Claire Marshall, University of Hull, and Colin Martin, Southern Cross University

Tokophobia goes beyond normal childbirth concerns and worries and becomes an intense and irrational fear of pregnancy and/or labour.

A vaccine will be a game-changer for international travel. But it’s not everything

Adrian Esterman, University of South Australia

With a vaccine now approved in the UK, other countries won’t be far behind. But a vaccine won’t singlehandedly ensure the virus doesn’t cross international borders when travel picks up.

Should Australians be worried about waiting for a COVID vaccine when the UK has just approved Pfizer’s?

Joel Lexchin, University of Toronto; Barbara Mintzes, University of Sydney; Kellia Chiu, University of Sydney, and Lisa Parker, University of Sydney

Australia is still aiming to start vaccinating high-risk groups from March. Why the delay?

Feeling sore after exercise? Here’s what science suggests helps (and what doesn’t)

Andrea Mosler, La Trobe University and Matthew Driller, La Trobe University

Ice baths, float tanks, foam rollers, compression garments - the post-exercise recovery market is booming. But the evidence for them doesn’t always stack up.

Victoria’s hotel quarantine overhaul is a step in the right direction, but issues remain

Peta-Anne Zimmerman, Griffith University; Matt Mason, University of the Sunshine Coast, and Vanessa Sparke, James Cook University

Three infection prevention and control experts break down Victoria’s new hotel quarantine system.

4 things about female orgasms researchers actually study

Jane Chalmers, University of South Australia

Here’s a snapshot of what research tells us about female orgasms, what we don’t know, and what researchers want to know next.

Images provided by the Disability Inclusive and Disaster Resilient Queensland Project.

‘Nobody checked on us’: what people with disability told us about their experiences of disasters and emergencies

Michelle Villeneuve, University of Sydney

One interviewee told us: ‘It would’ve been lovely if somebody had cared.’

What will Australia’s COVID vaccination program look like? 4 key questions answered

Allen Cheng, Monash University and Christopher Blyth, The University of Western Australia

Unprecedented efforts are driving the global push for a safe and effective vaccine. If and when we have one (or more), here’s how it’s likely to be rolled out in Australia.

Curious Kids: how does a virus stop?

Erin Smith, Edith Cowan University

Lots of viruses have disappeared before. But experts think COVID will stay with us for a long time to come.

What’s the difference between viral shedding and reinfection with COVID-19?

Lara Herrero, Griffith University and Eugene Madzokere, Griffith University

It’s not only shedding and reinfection which are different — there are actually two types of viral shedding.

We modelled how a COVID vaccine roll-out would work. Here’s what we found

Olga Kokshagina, RMIT University; Babak Abbasi, RMIT University; Masih Fadaki, RMIT University; Naima Saeed, University of Agder, and Prem Chhetri, RMIT University

We’re on the road again. Getting enough COVID-19 vaccine to where it’s needed in a given time frame is the next logistical hurdle.