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COVID-19 forced healthcare systems to make unprecedented changes in clinical care processes. The authors hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted timely access to care, perioperative processes, and clinical outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing primary appendectomy.
Australian governments have used vaccine mandates to drive high uptake of routine childhood vaccines and adult Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza vaccines. We sought to understand the attitudes of Western Australian parents regarding mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children, interviewing 44 parents of children aged up to 18 years between May and December 2021. Transcripts were analysed to ascertain parents' attitudes and sources of reasoning.
Climatic 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.
SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a significant risk of hospitalisation, death, and prolonged impact on quality of life. Evaluation of new treatment options and optimising therapeutic management of people hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection remains essential, but rapid changes in pandemic conditions and potential therapies have limited the utility of traditional approaches to randomised controlled trials.
Health 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.
A first-of-its-kind national study looking at the optimal COVID-19 vaccination strategies for children and adolescents is set to begin at Perth’s The Kids Research Institute Australia thanks to a $3.8 million funding injection from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
This study presents an optimised cultured ELISpot protocol for detecting central memory T-cell interferon gamma (IFNγ) responses against SARS-CoV-2 peptides following an initial priming with either peptides, or whole spike protein.
Top infectious disease experts in Australia will lead a clinical trial to determine whether combining different Covid-19 vaccines in the nation’s booster immunisation will increase effectiveness.
A study of ORIGINS families has revealed a positive aspect to the COVID pandemic, with families found to benefit from the extra time together during lockdowns and mobile devices proving useful for helping them stay in touch with extended family and friends and for activities such as online classes.
Australian children and adolescents were among the last local cohorts offered COVID-19 vaccines. Despite promising initial uptake, coverage subsequently plateaued, requiring further efforts to improve access and build parents’ recognition of the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.