Informed, engaged communities for health

Filter by Categories
#PHAAThinkTank2023
Aged care
Budgets
Federal Budget 2023-2024
Federal Budget October 2022
Federal Budget 2022-23
Federal Budget 2021-22
Budget2020Health
Federal Budget 2020-21
Federal Budget 2019-20
Climate and health
National Health and Climate Strategy
#HealthyCOP28
Climate emergency
Heatwaves
Healthcare sustainability
#CoveringClimateNow
#HealthyCOP27
#HealthyCOP26
COVID collection
Long COVID
COVID-19
COVIDwrap
COVID SNAPS
#JusticeCOVID
Caring for the Frontline
COVIDglobalMHseries
Croakey Conference News Service
#hpsymposium2023
#NMS23
#HEAL2023
#ASMIRT2023
#NSPC23
Our Democracy Forum
#AskMSF
#Lowitja2023
#GreenHealthForum23
#16nrhc
#GreenHealthForum22
#Heal2022
#ICEM22
#NAISA22
#NNF2022
#RANZCP2022
#RethinkAddiction
#RTP22
Choosing Wisely National Meeting 2022
Equally Well 2022 Symposium
GiantSteps22
Croakey Professional Services
NHLF series
#KidneyCareTogether
ACSQHC series
ACSQHC series 2022
ACSQHC series 2021
ACSQHC series 2020
ACSQHC series 2019
CATSINaM 25 Years
Croakey projects
#CroakeyLIVE #DigitalNationBuilding
#CroakeyLIVE #VoiceForHealth
The Health Wrap
ICYMI
@WePublicHealth
@WePublicHealth2023
#CroakeyVOICES
#SpeakingOurMinds
Croakey longreads
#CroakeyREAD
CroakeyEXPLORE
#PHAAThinkTank 2022
Summer reading 2022-2023
CroakeyGO
#CroakeyGO #NavigatingHealth
#GamblingHarms
#HeatwaveHealth
Mapping CroakeyGo
Determinants of health
Environmental determinants of health
Social determinants of health
Discrimination
Racism
Justice and policing
Poverty
Newstart/JobSeeker
Education
Housing
Internet access
Justice Reinvestment
Social policy
Commercial determinants of health
fossil fuels
Alcohol
Digital platforms
Food and beverages
Sugar tax
Tobacco
Vaping
Plain packaging
Gambling
Pharmaceutical industry
Arms industry
Disasters and extreme weather events
Disasters
Extreme weather events
Bushfires
Bushfire-emergency 2019-2020
Floods 2023
Floods 2022
Floods 2021
Floods 2011
Donor-funded journalism
Donor-funded journalism – 2023
Donor-funded journalism – 2022
Donor-funded journalism – 2021
Donor-funded journalism – 2020
Elections
#NSWvotesHealth2023
Victorian election 2022
Federal Election 2022
The Election Wrap 2022
#QldVotesHealth
SA election 2022
WA election 2021
Tasmanian election 2021
First Nations
Indigenous health
Uluru Statement
The Voice
Community controlled sector
Cultural determinants of health
Cultural safety
Social and emotional wellbeing
Indigenous education
Lowitja Institute
NT Intervention
WA community closures
Acknowledgement
#CTG10
#NTRC
#RCIADIC30Years
General health matters
Consumer health matters
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Chronic conditions
Non communicable diseases
Diabetes
Oral health
Disabilities
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Genetics
Medical marijuana
Mental health
Suicide
Trauma
LGBTQIA+
HIV/AIDS
Women's health
HRT
Abortion
Men's health
Youth health
Child health
Pregnancy and childbirth
Organ transplants
Pain
Sexual health
Infectious diseases
Influenza
Mpox
Swine flu
Death and dying
Euthanasia
Global health matters
Global health
WHO
Conflict and war
Asylum seeker and refugee health
#WorldInTurmoil
Ebola
NHS
Health policy and systems
MyMedicare
Health reform
Workforce matters
Health financing and costs
Health regulation
Strengthening Medicare Taskforce 2022
Co-design
TGA
Royal Commissions
National Commission of Audit 2014
National Health Performance Authority
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Private health insurance
Healthcare
Primary healthcare
cohealth
Social prescribing
Rural and remote health
General practice
International medical graduates
Primary Health Networks
NDIS
Nursing and midwifery
Australian Medical Association
Allied healthcare
Pharmacy
Paramedics
Pathology
Naturopathy
Hospitals
Emergency departments and care
Palliative care
Safety and quality of healthcare
Adverse events
Choosing Wisely
Co-payments
Out of pocket costs
Complementary medicines
Conflicts of interest
Health ethics
Digital technology
Telehealth
E-health
Equally Well
Health Care Homes
Medicare Locals
MyHospitals website
Screening
Surgery
Tests
Media and health
Media-related issues
Public interest journalism
Misinformation and disinformation
Social media and healthcare
Health & medical marketing
The Conversation
Media Doctor Australia
News about Croakey
Public health and population health
Artificial intelligence
Public health
Prevention
Health inequalities
Human rights
Health in All Policies
Health impact assessment
Legal issues
Australian Centre for Disease Control
VicHealth
Health literacy
Health communications
Vaccination
Air pollution
Physical activity
Sport
Obesity
Road safety
Transport
Gun control
Illicit drugs
Injuries
Marriage equality
Occupational health
Violence
Weight loss products
#PreventiveHealthStrategy
#UnmetNeedsinPublicHealth
Government 2.0
Web 2.0
Nanny state
National Preventive Health Agency
Research matters
Health and medical research
#MRFFtransparency
Evidence-based issues
Cochrane Collaboration
Health and medical education
NHMRC
The Croakey Archives
#cripcroakey
#HealthEquity16
#HealthMatters
#IHMayDay (all years)
#IHMayDay 2014
#IHMayDay15
#IHMayday16
#IHMayDay17
#IHMayDay18
#LoveRural 2014
Croakey Conference News Service 2013 – 2021
2021 conferences
#21OPCC
#BackToTheFire
#FoodGovernance2021
#GiantSteps21
#GreenHealthForum21
#HealthClimateSolutions21
#HearMe21
#IndigenousClimateJustice21
#NNF2021
#RANZCP2021
#ShiftingGearsSummit
#ValueBasedCare
#WCepi2021
#YHFSummit
2020 conferences
#2020ResearchExcellence
#Govern4Health
#HealthReImagined
#SAHeapsUnfair
2019 Conferences
#ACEM19
#CPHCE19
#EquallyWellAust
#GiantSteps19
#HealthAdvocacyWIM
#KTthatWorks
#LowitjaConf2019
#MHAgeing
#NNF2019
#OKtoAsk2019
#RANZCOG19
#RANZCP2019
#ruralhealthconf
#VMIAC2019
#WHOcollabAHPRA
2018 conferences
#6rrhss
#ACEM18
#AHPA2018
#ATSISPC18
#CPHCE
#MHED18
#NDISMentalHealth
#Nurseforce
#OKToAsk2018
#RANZCOG18
#ResearchIntoPolicy
#VHAawards
#VMIACAwards18
#WISPC18
2017 conferences
#17APCC
#ACEM17
#AIDAconf2017
#BTH20
#CATSINaM17
#ClimateHealthStrategy
#IAHAConf17
#IDS17
#LBQWHC17
#LivingOurWay
#OKtoAskAu
#OTCC2017
#ResearchTranslation17
#TheMHS2017
#VMIACConf17
#WCPH2017
Australian Palliative Care Conference
2016 conferences
#AHHAsim16
#AHMRC16
#ANROWS2016
#ATSISPEP
#AusCanIndigenousWellness
#cphce2016
#CPHCEforum16
#CRANAplus2016
#IAMRA2016
#LowitjaConf2016
#PreventObesity16
#TowardsRecovery
#VMIAC16
#WearablesCEH
#WICC2016
2015 conferences
#CPHCEforum
#CRANAplus15
#HSR15
#NRHC15
#OTCC15
Population Health Congress 2015
2014 conferences
#IPCHIV14
AIDA Conference 2014
Congress Lowitja 2014
CRANAplus conference 2014
Cultural Solutions - Healing Foundation forum 2014
Lowitja Institute Continuous Quality Improvement conference 2014
National Suicide Prevention Conference 2014
Racism and children/youth health symposium 2014
Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium 2014
2013 conferences
Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation Forum 2013
Australian Health Promotion Association Conference 2013
Closing the Credibility Gap 2013
CRANAplus Conference 2013
FASD Conference 2013
Health Workforce Australia 2013
International Health Literacy Network Conference 2013
NACCHO Summit 2013
National Rural Health Conference 2013
Oceania EcoHealth Symposium 2013
PHAA conference 2013
Croakey Professional Services archive
#CommunityControl
#CommunityControl Twitter Festival
#COVIDthinktank21
Lowitja Indigenous knowledge translation series
Croakey projects archive
#CommunityMatters
#CroakeyFundingDrive 2022
#CroakeyLIVE #Budget2021Health
#CroakeyLIVE #USvotesHealth
#CroakeyLIVE Federal election 2022
#CroakeyYOUTH
#HousingJusticeAus
#IndigenousHealthSummit
#IndigenousNCDs
#JustClimate
#JustJustice
#LookingLocal
#OutOfPocket
#OutOfTheBox
#RuralHealthJustice
#TalkingTeeth
@WePublicHealth2022
@WePublicHealth2021
@WePublicHealth2020
AroundTheTraps
Croakey register of influence
Croakey Register of Influencers in Public Health
Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents
Gavin Mooney
Inside Story
Journal Watch
Naked Doctor
Poems of Public Health
Summer reading 2021-2022
Summer reading 2020-2021
Summer Reading 2019-2020
Summer Reading 2017-2018
Summer Reading 2016-2017
The Koori Woman
TOO MUCH of a Good Thing
Wonky Health
CroakeyGO archive 2017 – 2018
CroakeyGo 2018
#CroakeyGO #QuantumWords 2018
#CroakeyGO #VicVotes 2018
#CroakeyGO Albury 2018
#CroakeyGO Callan Park 2018
#CroakeyGO Carnarvon 2018
#CroakeyGO Marrickville 2018
#CroakeyGO Palm Island 2018
CroakeyGo 2017
#CroakeyGO Adelaide 2017
#CroakeyGO Melbourne 2017
#CroakeyGO Newcastle 2017
#CroakeyGO Sydney 2017
Elections and Budgets 2013 – 2019
#AusVotesHealth Twitter Festival 2019
#Health4NSW
Federal Election 2019
NSW Election 2019
Federal Budget 2018-19
Federal Budget 2017/18
NZ Election 2017
Federal Budget 2016-17
Federal Election 2016
#HealthElection16
NT Election 2016
Federal Budget 2015-16
Qld Election 2015
NSW Election 2015
Federal Budget 2014-15
Victorian Election 2014
Federal Budget 2013-14
Federal Election 2013
Federal Budget 2012-2013
Federal Budget 2011
Federal Budget 2010
Federal Election 2010
Federal Budget 2009-2010
Support non-profit public interest journalism
Filter by Categories
#PHAAThinkTank2023
Aged care
Budgets
Federal Budget 2023-2024
Federal Budget October 2022
Federal Budget 2022-23
Federal Budget 2021-22
Budget2020Health
Federal Budget 2020-21
Federal Budget 2019-20
Climate and health
National Health and Climate Strategy
#HealthyCOP28
Climate emergency
Heatwaves
Healthcare sustainability
#CoveringClimateNow
#HealthyCOP27
#HealthyCOP26
COVID collection
Long COVID
COVID-19
COVIDwrap
COVID SNAPS
#JusticeCOVID
Caring for the Frontline
COVIDglobalMHseries
Croakey Conference News Service
#hpsymposium2023
#NMS23
#HEAL2023
#ASMIRT2023
#NSPC23
Our Democracy Forum
#AskMSF
#Lowitja2023
#GreenHealthForum23
#16nrhc
#GreenHealthForum22
#Heal2022
#ICEM22
#NAISA22
#NNF2022
#RANZCP2022
#RethinkAddiction
#RTP22
Choosing Wisely National Meeting 2022
Equally Well 2022 Symposium
GiantSteps22
Croakey Professional Services
NHLF series
#KidneyCareTogether
ACSQHC series
ACSQHC series 2022
ACSQHC series 2021
ACSQHC series 2020
ACSQHC series 2019
CATSINaM 25 Years
Croakey projects
#CroakeyLIVE #DigitalNationBuilding
#CroakeyLIVE #VoiceForHealth
The Health Wrap
ICYMI
@WePublicHealth
@WePublicHealth2023
#CroakeyVOICES
#SpeakingOurMinds
Croakey longreads
#CroakeyREAD
CroakeyEXPLORE
#PHAAThinkTank 2022
Summer reading 2022-2023
CroakeyGO
#CroakeyGO #NavigatingHealth
#GamblingHarms
#HeatwaveHealth
Mapping CroakeyGo
Determinants of health
Environmental determinants of health
Social determinants of health
Discrimination
Racism
Justice and policing
Poverty
Newstart/JobSeeker
Education
Housing
Internet access
Justice Reinvestment
Social policy
Commercial determinants of health
fossil fuels
Alcohol
Digital platforms
Food and beverages
Sugar tax
Tobacco
Vaping
Plain packaging
Gambling
Pharmaceutical industry
Arms industry
Disasters and extreme weather events
Disasters
Extreme weather events
Bushfires
Bushfire-emergency 2019-2020
Floods 2023
Floods 2022
Floods 2021
Floods 2011
Donor-funded journalism
Donor-funded journalism – 2023
Donor-funded journalism – 2022
Donor-funded journalism – 2021
Donor-funded journalism – 2020
Elections
#NSWvotesHealth2023
Victorian election 2022
Federal Election 2022
The Election Wrap 2022
#QldVotesHealth
SA election 2022
WA election 2021
Tasmanian election 2021
First Nations
Indigenous health
Uluru Statement
The Voice
Community controlled sector
Cultural determinants of health
Cultural safety
Social and emotional wellbeing
Indigenous education
Lowitja Institute
NT Intervention
WA community closures
Acknowledgement
#CTG10
#NTRC
#RCIADIC30Years
General health matters
Consumer health matters
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Chronic conditions
Non communicable diseases
Diabetes
Oral health
Disabilities
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Genetics
Medical marijuana
Mental health
Suicide
Trauma
LGBTQIA+
HIV/AIDS
Women's health
HRT
Abortion
Men's health
Youth health
Child health
Pregnancy and childbirth
Organ transplants
Pain
Sexual health
Infectious diseases
Influenza
Mpox
Swine flu
Death and dying
Euthanasia
Global health matters
Global health
WHO
Conflict and war
Asylum seeker and refugee health
#WorldInTurmoil
Ebola
NHS
Health policy and systems
MyMedicare
Health reform
Workforce matters
Health financing and costs
Health regulation
Strengthening Medicare Taskforce 2022
Co-design
TGA
Royal Commissions
National Commission of Audit 2014
National Health Performance Authority
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Private health insurance
Healthcare
Primary healthcare
cohealth
Social prescribing
Rural and remote health
General practice
International medical graduates
Primary Health Networks
NDIS
Nursing and midwifery
Australian Medical Association
Allied healthcare
Pharmacy
Paramedics
Pathology
Naturopathy
Hospitals
Emergency departments and care
Palliative care
Safety and quality of healthcare
Adverse events
Choosing Wisely
Co-payments
Out of pocket costs
Complementary medicines
Conflicts of interest
Health ethics
Digital technology
Telehealth
E-health
Equally Well
Health Care Homes
Medicare Locals
MyHospitals website
Screening
Surgery
Tests
Media and health
Media-related issues
Public interest journalism
Misinformation and disinformation
Social media and healthcare
Health & medical marketing
The Conversation
Media Doctor Australia
News about Croakey
Public health and population health
Artificial intelligence
Public health
Prevention
Health inequalities
Human rights
Health in All Policies
Health impact assessment
Legal issues
Australian Centre for Disease Control
VicHealth
Health literacy
Health communications
Vaccination
Air pollution
Physical activity
Sport
Obesity
Road safety
Transport
Gun control
Illicit drugs
Injuries
Marriage equality
Occupational health
Violence
Weight loss products
#PreventiveHealthStrategy
#UnmetNeedsinPublicHealth
Government 2.0
Web 2.0
Nanny state
National Preventive Health Agency
Research matters
Health and medical research
#MRFFtransparency
Evidence-based issues
Cochrane Collaboration
Health and medical education
NHMRC
The Croakey Archives
#cripcroakey
#HealthEquity16
#HealthMatters
#IHMayDay (all years)
#IHMayDay 2014
#IHMayDay15
#IHMayday16
#IHMayDay17
#IHMayDay18
#LoveRural 2014
Croakey Conference News Service 2013 – 2021
2021 conferences
#21OPCC
#BackToTheFire
#FoodGovernance2021
#GiantSteps21
#GreenHealthForum21
#HealthClimateSolutions21
#HearMe21
#IndigenousClimateJustice21
#NNF2021
#RANZCP2021
#ShiftingGearsSummit
#ValueBasedCare
#WCepi2021
#YHFSummit
2020 conferences
#2020ResearchExcellence
#Govern4Health
#HealthReImagined
#SAHeapsUnfair
2019 Conferences
#ACEM19
#CPHCE19
#EquallyWellAust
#GiantSteps19
#HealthAdvocacyWIM
#KTthatWorks
#LowitjaConf2019
#MHAgeing
#NNF2019
#OKtoAsk2019
#RANZCOG19
#RANZCP2019
#ruralhealthconf
#VMIAC2019
#WHOcollabAHPRA
2018 conferences
#6rrhss
#ACEM18
#AHPA2018
#ATSISPC18
#CPHCE
#MHED18
#NDISMentalHealth
#Nurseforce
#OKToAsk2018
#RANZCOG18
#ResearchIntoPolicy
#VHAawards
#VMIACAwards18
#WISPC18
2017 conferences
#17APCC
#ACEM17
#AIDAconf2017
#BTH20
#CATSINaM17
#ClimateHealthStrategy
#IAHAConf17
#IDS17
#LBQWHC17
#LivingOurWay
#OKtoAskAu
#OTCC2017
#ResearchTranslation17
#TheMHS2017
#VMIACConf17
#WCPH2017
Australian Palliative Care Conference
2016 conferences
#AHHAsim16
#AHMRC16
#ANROWS2016
#ATSISPEP
#AusCanIndigenousWellness
#cphce2016
#CPHCEforum16
#CRANAplus2016
#IAMRA2016
#LowitjaConf2016
#PreventObesity16
#TowardsRecovery
#VMIAC16
#WearablesCEH
#WICC2016
2015 conferences
#CPHCEforum
#CRANAplus15
#HSR15
#NRHC15
#OTCC15
Population Health Congress 2015
2014 conferences
#IPCHIV14
AIDA Conference 2014
Congress Lowitja 2014
CRANAplus conference 2014
Cultural Solutions - Healing Foundation forum 2014
Lowitja Institute Continuous Quality Improvement conference 2014
National Suicide Prevention Conference 2014
Racism and children/youth health symposium 2014
Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium 2014
2013 conferences
Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation Forum 2013
Australian Health Promotion Association Conference 2013
Closing the Credibility Gap 2013
CRANAplus Conference 2013
FASD Conference 2013
Health Workforce Australia 2013
International Health Literacy Network Conference 2013
NACCHO Summit 2013
National Rural Health Conference 2013
Oceania EcoHealth Symposium 2013
PHAA conference 2013
Croakey Professional Services archive
#CommunityControl
#CommunityControl Twitter Festival
#COVIDthinktank21
Lowitja Indigenous knowledge translation series
Croakey projects archive
#CommunityMatters
#CroakeyFundingDrive 2022
#CroakeyLIVE #Budget2021Health
#CroakeyLIVE #USvotesHealth
#CroakeyLIVE Federal election 2022
#CroakeyYOUTH
#HousingJusticeAus
#IndigenousHealthSummit
#IndigenousNCDs
#JustClimate
#JustJustice
#LookingLocal
#OutOfPocket
#OutOfTheBox
#RuralHealthJustice
#TalkingTeeth
@WePublicHealth2022
@WePublicHealth2021
@WePublicHealth2020
AroundTheTraps
Croakey register of influence
Croakey Register of Influencers in Public Health
Croakey Register of Unreleased Documents
Gavin Mooney
Inside Story
Journal Watch
Naked Doctor
Poems of Public Health
Summer reading 2021-2022
Summer reading 2020-2021
Summer Reading 2019-2020
Summer Reading 2017-2018
Summer Reading 2016-2017
The Koori Woman
TOO MUCH of a Good Thing
Wonky Health
CroakeyGO archive 2017 – 2018
CroakeyGo 2018
#CroakeyGO #QuantumWords 2018
#CroakeyGO #VicVotes 2018
#CroakeyGO Albury 2018
#CroakeyGO Callan Park 2018
#CroakeyGO Carnarvon 2018
#CroakeyGO Marrickville 2018
#CroakeyGO Palm Island 2018
CroakeyGo 2017
#CroakeyGO Adelaide 2017
#CroakeyGO Melbourne 2017
#CroakeyGO Newcastle 2017
#CroakeyGO Sydney 2017
Elections and Budgets 2013 – 2019
#AusVotesHealth Twitter Festival 2019
#Health4NSW
Federal Election 2019
NSW Election 2019
Federal Budget 2018-19
Federal Budget 2017/18
NZ Election 2017
Federal Budget 2016-17
Federal Election 2016
#HealthElection16
NT Election 2016
Federal Budget 2015-16
Qld Election 2015
NSW Election 2015
Federal Budget 2014-15
Victorian Election 2014
Federal Budget 2013-14
Federal Election 2013
Federal Budget 2012-2013
Federal Budget 2011
Federal Budget 2010
Federal Election 2010
Federal Budget 2009-2010

COVID-19 wrap: update on vaccine developments, long haulers – and some quirky research findings

In her final COVID wrap for the year, public health researcher Alison Barrett provides an update on vaccine developments, reports on a study of “wounded healers”, and brings some seasonal levity to the table.


Update on COVID-19 vaccines

In a year that has seen unprecedented disruptions to science and research, vaccines against the COVID-19 virus have been developed in record time, providing hope to many as results from three vaccine candidates are found to be effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms.

On Tuesday, 8 December, the first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was administered to a grandmother in the United Kingdom (UK) after the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency provided emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the vaccine to begin rollout.

Regulatory bodies in Bahrain, Canada and the United States have also granted EUA for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. On 17 December, another vaccine by biotechnology company, Moderna, was given EUA by the US Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

This comes after the three leading vaccine candidates by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, released preliminary results from Phase 3 of their clinical trials.

Below is an overview of the three vaccines.

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

The peer-reviewed results of the Pfizer/BioNTech clinical trials were published on 10th December in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers found the vaccine produced the desired outcome of preventing COVID-19 symptoms in 95 percent of study participants who acquired a confirmed case of COVID-19, when compared to those who received the placebo. Some side effects, which were generally gone within two days of immunisation, included fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain and diarrhoea.

The trial included 43,548 participants 16 years or older in the US, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Germany and Turkey who were in either the trial group that received the vaccine or a placebo group that received a saline solution. Two doses of the vaccine or placebo were injected into the upper arm muscle 21 days apart.

While the vaccine was found to be highly effective in study participants, it is unclear if the vaccine will work in pregnant women, children or younger teenagers – groups that were not included in the initial trial. With only two to three months of follow-up, the long-term impact and immunity is also unknown. Researchers intend to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of the vaccine, and include other groups in future trials.

Moderna mRNA vaccine

Not yet peer-reviewed, Moderna announced results of their phase three trial by press release on 16 November 2020. Similar to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine was found to have 94.5 percent vaccine efficacy in preventing COVID-19 symptoms, compared to those who were received the placebo.

Their trial included 30,000 participants, aged 18 years or older, in the US who were given two doses 28 days apart of the vaccine or placebo. Side effects included local pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle pain and headache.

Thirty-seven percent of the participants are from racial and ethnic minority groups in the US after researchers actively recruited for participants from groups who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

The trial is ongoing and aims to collect long-term impact and immunity information about the vaccine.

Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

Peer-reviewed results of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trial were published in The Lancet on 8th December.

An interim analysis of 11,636 trial participants aged 18 years or older from UK and Brazil found that when all dosing regimens were combined, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine had 70 percent efficacy in preventing COVID-19 symptoms, when compared to those who received the placebo.

While most participants in the trial received two standard doses 28 days apart, of either the vaccine or control solution, due to a measurement error, a subgroup of participants received a lower dose in their first dose, followed by a standard dose in their second injection.

For participants who received the two standard doses, the vaccine was found to have 62.1 percent efficacy; and for those in the subgroup who received the lower first dose, the vaccine was found to have 90 percent efficacy. The researchers are unsure why a lower first dose resulted in higher efficacy; further analyses is required.

Similarly to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine trial, as median follow-up of participants was three months, they were unable to determine the long-term protection of the vaccine; however, the trial is ongoing. Other questions about the trial, including its effectiveness on those over 55 years and capability to fight asymptomatic infections, were discussed by Heidi Ledford in Nature on 8 December.

Promising results; public health interventions and further research still required

The results of the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine trials suggest they are effective in preventing COVID-19 symptoms. However, they have not been found to prevent infection or reduce the spread of the virus and information about long-term immunity is unknown at this stage.

Caution is required in comparing the efficacy of the three vaccines because each trial was conducted differently. However, it is highly beneficial for world-wide distribution and availability to have three efficacious and safe vaccines.

The vaccine developments are exciting, providing hope for many, and highlight how quickly research can be undertaken when funding isn’t an issue and worldwide collaborations occur. However, articles at Croakey have discussed multiple issues over the past few months concerning the development and roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines:

‘A massive assault on trust’: vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 – misinformation and distrust may challenge the public’s uptake of a vaccination.

Will a vaccine really solve our COVID-19 woes? – benefits from a vaccine will likely include a reduced number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths, but public health measures (masks, physical distancing, travel restrictions) are still likely needed to prevent infections.

COVID vaccine announcement makes global news. But many questions remain – concerns raised over the announcement of vaccine trial results by press release, as opposed to publishing the full results by preprint or after peer-review.

More than vaccine needed to ensure continued COVID-19 success – a suite of measures, including public health interventions, treatments and vaccines, required to keep Australians safe in 2021.

Associate Professor Lesley Russell has also discussed concerns about the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in her December Health Wraps (on 1 Dec and 15 Dec).

Helen Branswell, global health reporter at STAT News, has raised similar concerns: The COVID-19 vaccines are a marvel of science. Here’s how we can make the best use of them, (on 2 December).

Rapid vaccine roll-outs require clinics and trained staff available to book appointments and administer the vaccines, which are both at limited capacity due to the overwhelming number of cases in many countries. Mistrust in science may result in many being cautious to accept the vaccine.

It is important for health professionals and politicians to work with community leaders to determine how to communicate vaccine messages. As it is unknown how long immunity will last, it is necessary to continue maintaining public health interventions, such as mask wearing and physical distancing.

Also see this article by Branswell at STAT News: A side-by-side comparison of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines (19 December).


Developing services for long COVID: lessons from a study of wounded healers

Ladds, E et al., Medrxiv Preprint Server, 16 November 2020

Approximately ten to twenty percent of COVID-19 patients experience persistent symptoms lasting more than three weeks. Most common symptoms that long COVID patients report experiencing include fatigue, breathlessness, joint and chest pain.

With limited support and services available for long COVID patients (or ‘long haulers’), grassroots groups have been active in providing support to tens of thousands of long haulers, and advocating for awareness of the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and future research.

Healthcare workers have a greater risk of acquiring COVID-19 and therefore, can provide valuable insight into services to support long COVID sufferers.

Between May and September 2020, researchers in the United Kingdom undertook focus groups and interviews with 43 healthcare workers with long COVID to gain a better understanding of their experiences and recommendations for support services.

The research identified six main themes:

  • Uncertainty about the persistent symptoms and that they did not fit with their prior knowledge of the virus.
  • Use of professional mindlines – which are guidelines of knowledge and experience shared between colleagues (rather than accessing information from research articles) – was reported to be beneficial.
  • Support groups and communities of practice have provided practical support and a “sense of shared identity and belonging”.
  • Therapeutic relationships and roles included those that enabled the patient to share their experience and be acknowledged.
  • Professional identity and practice, where participants reported professional tensions around accessing care and perceived fear that colleagues would think they were shirking their work responsibilities.
  • Suggestions for service improvement.

From this research, a potential structure for a ‘one-stop-shop’ service for long haulers was co-designed as well as clinical quality standards. The Long COVID Clinical Quality Standards are:

  • Long haulers should have access to diagnostic tests and referrals to specialists
  • Burden of illness minimised
  • Clinical responsibility and continuity of care is vital
  • Multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services to support patients through a variety of symptoms
  • Evidence-based standards to guide management of symptoms
  • Further development of the knowledge base and clinical services.

The authors acknowledge that one of the limitations of this research is that the study participants were all from the UK and lacked ethnic diversity; therefore, the results may not be generalisable to other populations.

However, the results provided an in-depth analysis of healthcare workers with long COVID, making the most of their knowledge as healthcare professionals and patients.

The authors wrote, “as well as minimizing patient suffering, it is hoped implementation [of clinical quality standards] would reduce mortality, improve patient outcomes, and optimize return to employment” for long COVID sufferers.


Quirky stories

Quirky stories, wacky research, amazing images and other eclectica suitable for the festive season” have been published in the Medical Journal of Australia’s December edition. Submissions included:

First place: Scientists in pyjamas: characterising the working arrangements and productivity of Australian medical researchers during the COVID19 pandemic

David G Chapman and Cindy Thamrin conducted a prospective cohort study of staff at five medical research institutes in Sydney between 30 April and 18 May 2020 via an online survey:

To characterise the working arrangements of medical research scientists and support staff in Australia during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to evaluate factors (in particular: wearing pyjamas) that influence the self‐assessed productivity and mental health of medical institute staff working from home.”

Of 163 people who responded to the survey, a similar proportion of non-scientists (for example, administration, information technology, finance) and scientists wore pyjamas during the work from home day.

Wearing pyjamas whilst working from home was not related to self-reported productivity, but it was related to more frequent reporting of poorer mental health than those who did not wear pyjamas whilst working from home.

Perhaps not surprisingly, having children at home was associated with reduced productivity and reduced generation of “new ideas”.

Early career researchers were more frequently reported to have reduced productivity while working from home than established researchers.

In conclusion, the authors wrote: “Our findings are probably applicable to scientists in other countries. They may help improve work‐from‐home policies by removing the stigma associated with pyjama wearing during work and by providing support for working parents and early career researchers.”

Second place: What the forks? A longitudinal quality improvement study tracking cutlery numbers in a public teaching and research hospital staff tearoom

Researchers at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital investigated the circulation of forks and teaspoons in the work tearoom, and found, in conclusion, that:

Teaspoon disappearance is a more substantial problem than fork migration in a multidisciplinary staff tearoom, and may reflect different kleptomaniacal or individual appropriation tendencies.

If giving cutlery this Christmas, give teaspoons, not forks.

The symbolism of fork rebirth or resurrection is appropriate for both Christmas and Easter, and forks are also mighty useful implements for eating cake!”

Read the third placed submission, on MJA: The year of the ‘rona: an uncontrolled trial in verse, a poem by Rob D Mitchell


In brief

The story of mRNA: how a once-dismissed idea became a leading technology in the COVID vaccine race

Garde, D, Stat News, 10 November 2020

Read this article about how persistent scientist, Katalin Kariko, and colleague Drew Weissman, discovered a key breakthrough that lead to use of mRNA (messenger-RNA) in the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.

How mRNA vaccines work

Read this thread, shared by Dr Amy Coopes on Twitter, that describes how mRNA vaccines work.


Other science news

In a year that was dominated by COVID-19 news, science and events, it is important to reflect on some of the other scientific and political news and breakthroughs in 2020.

Nature has published their (non-COVID) scientific reflections of the year.

Spotlight on inequality – after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May, millions of protestors around the world gathered to condemn racism and police brutality. Researchers shared their experiences with racism in science and called for action to address systemic inequalities.

Environmental extremes – the year began with devastating bushfires in Australia; wildfires also occurred in Siberia, South America and California. Hurricane season in the US broke records and the Arctic Sea ice disappeared to its second-lowest amount on record.

While the United Nation’s climate summit was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, in good news, China vowed to become carbon neutral by 2060 and Japan set a goal of net zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.

Political change – in the US, President Biden’s election is good news for science as he aims to implement more climate-friendly policies and has promised an evidence-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Space missions – three missions to Mars launched in July by United Arab Emirates, US and China; a Chinese spacecraft landed on the moon on 1 December to collect dust to bring back to Earth; and a Japanese spacecraft safely landed in Australia after collecting material from an asteroid’s surface.

Wishing all of the COVID-19 Wrap readers a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year. The wrap will be back in 2021!


Alison Barrett is a Masters by Research candidate and research assistant at University of South Australia, with interests in public health, rural health and health inequities. Follow on Twitter: @AlisonSBarrett. Croakey thanks her for providing this column as a probono service to our readers.

See previous editions of the COVID wrap.

COVID-19 Twitter lists

Follow this Twitter list for informed news sources, global and Australian.

Follow this Twitter list for news from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations and experts.

Follow this Twitter list for news of the South Australian outbreak.