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.
Moderna has reported further results of their Phase 3 COVID vaccine study. The results, based on 30,000 participants, included 196 cases of COVID-19, of which 30 cases were severe. According to the company, the vaccine's efficacy was 94.1 per cent overall. The data also suggest the vaccine is 100 per cent effective against severe COVID-19. Moderna also announced it will request Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and apply for a conditional marketing authorisation with the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
A new report have been released about the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the new variants of COVID-19. A paper released by Nature Medicine suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) is shown to neutralize the United Kingdom and South African variants of SARS-CoV-2 (N501Y and E484K mutations). Here's what Australian experts have to say...
Uncertainty about the efficacy of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in people over 65 years has caused some confusion in media reports, with some saying it may be much less effective in older people. AstraZeneca have stated that this claim is incorrect and scientists have pointed out that the numbers of older people tested with the vaccine is very low (ie. absence of evidence is not evidence of absence). Australian experts comment.
It has been reported that the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine has demonstrated an 89.3% efficacy in its UK phase 3 trial. Experts comment on the findings.
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.
