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Minderoo Foundation funds vaccine trial to protect WA healthcare workers from COVID-19At least 2,000 WA healthcare workers will help test whether an existing tuberculosis vaccine can reduce their chance of COVID-19 infection, lessen the severity of symptoms and boost immunity.
News & Events
Community advocate jumps on board with new COVID-19 advisory groupLike many of us, consumer and community advocate Catherine Hughes is worried about the impact of COVID-19. So she joined Australia’s first COVID-19 consumer reference group to be a voice for the community.
News & Events
Rapidly assembled advisory group to offer community take on COVID-19 researchThe speed with which research projects on the coronavirus have been put together has consumer advocates concerned that a vital voice will be missing – that of the community.
Research
Evaluating COVID-19-Related Disruptions to Effective Malaria Case Management in 2020–2021 and Its Potential Effects on Malaria Burden in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to far-reaching disruptions to health systems, including preventative and curative services for malaria. The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of disruptions in malaria case management in sub-Saharan Africa and their impact on malaria burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used survey data collected by the World Health Organization, in which individual country stakeholders reported on the extent of disruptions to malaria diagnosis and treatment.
Research
COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of health care workers in Perth, Western Australia: A qualitative studyHealth care workers (HCWs) faced an increased risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout commenced in February 2021 to priority groups, including HCWs. Given their increased risk, as well as influence on patients’ vaccine uptake, it was important that HCWs had a positive COVID-19 vaccination experience, as well as trusting the vaccine safety and efficacy data.
Research
Effects of climatic factors on COVID-19 transmission in EthiopiaClimatic conditions play a key role in the transmission and pathophysiology of respiratory tract infections, either directly or indirectly. However, their impact on the COVID-19 pandemic propagation is yet to be studied.
Research
Superior immunogenicity of mRNA over adenoviral vectored COVID-19 vaccines reflects B cell dynamics independent of anti-vector immunity: Implications for future pandemic vaccinesBoth vector and mRNA vaccines were an important part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may be required in future outbreaks and pandemics. The aim of this study was to validate whether immunogenicity differs for adenoviral vectored (AdV) versus mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, and to investigate how anti-vector immunity and B cell dynamics modulate immunogenicity.
Research
Adverse event reports of anaphylaxis after Comirnaty and Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccinations, Western Australia, 22 February to 30 June 2021Within the first 4 months of the Western Australian COVID-19 immunisation programme, 49 suspected anaphylaxis cases were reported to the vaccine safety surveillance system. Twelve reports met Brighton Collaboration case definition, corresponding to rates of 15.9 and 17.7 per million doses of Vaxzevria and Comirnaty administered respectively.
Research
Opportunities to strengthen respiratory virus surveillance systems in Australia: lessons learned from the COVID-19 responseDisease surveillance data was critical in supporting public health decisions throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. At the same time, the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic revealed many shortcomings of surveillance systems for viral respiratory pathogens. Strengthening of surveillance systems was identified as a priority for the recently established Australian Centre for Disease Control, which represents a critical opportunity to review pre-pandemic and pandemic surveillance practices, and to decide on future priorities, during both pandemic and inter-pandemic periods.
Research
Characterising the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein antibody responseSARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein antibodies can be used to identify the serological response to natural infection in those who have previously received a COVID-19 spike-based vaccine. Anti-N antibody responses can also be induced by inactivated whole SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccines, such as CoronaVac. We aimed to characterise antibody responses to the N protein following COVID-19 and following vaccination with CoronaVac.