The Australian Science Media Centre works to enhance the media’s coverage of science, for the benefit of the public. We provide the evidence and experts when science hits the headlines.
Do COVID vaccines cause antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)? ADE occurs when a virus or vaccine causes the production of antibodies that can make a viral infection worse.
The Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge in the UK has published updated graphics on the risks and benefits of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and specific blood clots, in different age groups, and with different virus exposure levels, and also by gender.
It has just been reported that the state of Victoria, Australia will enter a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown from 11:59pm tonight in a bid to curb the state’s growing coronavirus outbreak caused by a highly infectious variant of concern. In a press conference, Acting Premier James Merlino said there are now 34 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria, with 12 linked new cases in the past day. Mr Merlino said the primary concern is how quickly this strain is moving. The State Government is urging everyone to get vaccinated and has said getting vaccinated will be one of five reasons people are allowed to leave home.
Are there microchip technologies that are small enough to pass through a syringe needle and allow people to be tracked?
The Australian Government has confirmed it has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, following an announcement from the company overnight. This is the second messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine to be purchased by the Government, providing access to the current Moderna vaccine or variant-specific versions of the vaccine developed by Moderna, to address emerging viral variants.
Professor Beng Chong an expert on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a condition that closely resembles the blood clot condition linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Professor Chong explains what we know about vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia.
The risk of rare blood clotting known as cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) following COVID-19 infection is around 100 times greater than normal, and several times higher than it is post-vaccination or following influenza, according to research from the UK. The research has not been published in a journal and is yet to be peer-reviewed. The authors report that CVT is more common after COVID-19 than after the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, or following influenza. The authors then also refer to the risk of CVT following the AstraZeneca vaccine using data from the European Medicines Agency and say the risk of CVT from COVID-19 infection is also higher than the rate reported for this vaccine.
Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has hit a major hurdle with the Government announcing it will accept the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and prioritise the Pfizer vaccine over the AstraZeneca vaccine for Australians under 50.
The European Medicines Agency has declared a possible link between AstraZeneca's COVID vaccine and rare blood-clotting issues confirming they should be listed as a very rare side effect. There are also reports the Australian Government has asked the national regulator to look into these findings. Below Australian experts comment.
The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released a statement suggesting AstraZeneca may have included outdated information in the trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. AstraZeneca has released a response to the NIAID statement here. Below, Australian experts respond to the report.
Several European countries, including Germany and France, have now suspended use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine after reports of blood clots. Australian senator Matt Canavan has also called on Australia to pause its use of this vaccine. Here, Australian experts comment.
Australia's vaccine program kicks off in earnest today with a phased program that begins with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the most vulnerable people in the community. Australian experts respond.
The WHO has released interim recommendations for the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, recommending its use for healthcare workers and elderly people as a priority to reduce COVID deaths and transmission. Here's what the Aussie experts have to say.
As the Australian Government prepares to roll out the COVID-19 vaccination program, CSL has been busily manufacturing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (recombinant adenovirus vaccine). CSL has a contract to manufacture 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for use by Australians and is on track to deliver the first doses - tested, approved and released by the TGA (subject to TGA approval) – from late March. Representatives from CSL and Seqirus’ advanced manufacturing facilities in Broadmeadows and Parkville, Victoria will explain the process of manufacturing the AstraZeneca vaccine – starting from the first ‘vial thaw’ through to ‘harvest’ of the product in bulk, to formulation and ‘fill and finish’ into dose vials.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced overnight that their vaccine candidate was more than 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19. The results are based on initial data from a large study of 43,538 participants, including 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The vaccine is the same one (of two) that featured in an announcement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, with the government securing 50 million more potential vaccine doses through two new agreements, including one with Pfizer. Australian experts respond.
The mainstream media is the most important source of information on science and technology for the Australian public, and yet the relationship between scientists and the media is often fraught and difficult. The AusSMC exists to support both scientists and journalists to ensure that the public has access to the best scientific evidence and expertise.
The idea to set up an Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) came from the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program. The AusSMC is based on the successful UK Science Media Centre that was established in London in 2002.
The AusSMC was established as an independent, not-for-profit organisation in late 2005. The Centre is housed in the old Adelaide Stock Exchange building, refurbished and renamed the Science Exchange. The AusSMC is now one of six international SMCs (UK, Australia, NZ, Canada, Germany and the US).
In response to a demand from journalists, the AusSMC launched a breaking science news portal, Scimex (Science Media Exchange) in 2015 to provide the media with access to scientific expertise, independent expert reaction, multimedia and research stories from Australia and NZ. Scimex is now used by 1,600 journalists and distributes more than 3,000 stories each year.
Journalists anywhere in the world wishing to sign up to receive our briefing alerts, Expert Reactions and twice-weekly "SMC Picks" alert on upcoming research (including embargoed papers) can sign up here.
The mainstream media is the most important source of information on science and technology for the Australian public, and yet the relationship between scientists and the media is often fraught and difficult. The AusSMC exists to support both scientists and journalists to ensure that the public has access to the best scientific evidence and expertise.
The idea to set up an Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) came from the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence program. The AusSMC is based on the successful UK Science Media Centre that was established in London in 2002.
The AusSMC was established as an independent, not-for-profit organisation in late 2005. The Centre is housed in the old Adelaide Stock Exchange building, refurbished and renamed the Science Exchange. The AusSMC is now one of six international SMCs (UK, Australia, NZ, Canada, Germany and the US).
In response to a demand from journalists, the AusSMC launched a breaking science news portal, Scimex (Science Media Exchange) in 2015 to provide the media with access to scientific expertise, independent expert reaction, multimedia and research stories from Australia and NZ. Scimex is now used by 1,600 journalists and distributes more than 3,000 stories each year.
Journalists anywhere in the world wishing to sign up to receive our briefing alerts, Expert Reactions and twice-weekly "SMC Picks" alert on upcoming research (including embargoed papers) can sign up here.
