Researchers are already working to improve the current crop of mRNA vaccines. Hopefully this will help them become more practical and affordable for the entire world, not just first-world countries.
Tinglong Dai, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
The website has triggered random appointment cancellations and unreliable sign-ups. Only one contractor was deemed qualified to build it – and it wasn’t a major tech company. We’ve seen this before.
New guidelines take a broad definition of who can apply for a religious exemption to vaccinations. A lot will hinge on what constitutes ‘undue hardship’ to the employer.
Scott Morrison has been forced to publicly slap down Craig Kelly, after the Liberal backbencher got into a spectacular spat with Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek in Parliament House’s press gallery.
The virus is evolving and new strains are more transmissible. Will the vaccines work against these new variants? How can researchers stay ahead of the virus’s evolution?
Craig Kelly has had his neck saved by two prime ministers: Malcolm Turnbull before the 2016 election and Scott Morrison prior to the last one. It’s unlikely anyone will step in for him a third time.
Getting pharmacies more involved could be a game changer, particularly for reaching minorities, older adults without internet access and others left behind.
The Novavax vaccine is the first that provides objective scientific evidence that it can protect people against the variant virus circulating in South Africa.
Palestinian territories are impoverished and densely populated – ripe for the spread of coronavirus. Israel may have a practical as well as moral obligation to extend its vaccine program to them.
Getting a vaccine is proving difficult for many older people now, but the mad rush for the vaccine won’t last long. Many people don’t want to get one at all, and that will impede herd immunity.
You need a new shot every year because current flu vaccines provide limited and temporary protection. But researchers’ new strategy could mean a one-and-done influenza vaccine is on the way.
Censoring misinformation on social media may only have limited benefits. Responding with facts, however, might be an opportunity to positively influence audiences that are otherwise hard to reach.
Dean Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at University of the Witwatersrand; and Director of the SAMRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand