Recent commentary has suggested transport, age, jobs, migrant population and other factors among the reasons that may help explain the difference. What does the data say?
Steve Larkin, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
In a survey of Stolen Generation survivors, two-thirds reported a decline in their physical health as a result of COVID restrictions, while 75% reported a decline in their mental health and wellbeing.
A more coordinated effort by scientists, stakeholders and community members will be required to stop the next deadly virus that’s already circulating in our midst.
Kylie Quinn, RMIT University and Jennifer Juno, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
The infection of a Victorian aged-worker who had received their first COVID vaccine dose isn’t completely surprising. We need two doses for optimal protection.
For now, it seems the benefits to Australia’s public health may be better served by other technology. And the public cost of maintaining the COVIDSafe app may not be in our collective interest.
This treatment would work by targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself and stopping it in its tracks. The evidence we have so far is promising, but it’s still very early days.
There are many hard lessons learned from the pandemic; one is that our food system needs a serious reboot. Luckily, we need only look to nature’s cycles for clues on how to fix it.
Answers to key questions about rare blood clots linked to AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, including risks, symptoms and whether people who have had one AstraZeneca shot should have a second.
It’s an absolute priority we find and use ways to support kids to continue face-to-face learning in times of low community transmission, especially primary schools.
As vaccine eligibility is expanded to adolescents and young adults, understanding who might be more likely to be vaccine hesitant, and why, can help inform public health strategies
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne