Second application pending for under-fives COVID vaccine Pfizer has been told it can apply for its Comirnaty vaccine to be used to immunise children under five in Australia.
‘Large potential burden’: Long COVID warning for GPs The number of patients with lingering symptoms will almost certainly rise, with one expert calling it a ‘very significant’ public health challenge.
Diagnosis delays lead to PCR test push Vulnerable patients with symptoms should get the more sensitive test to allow treatment to be fast-tracked, says deputy CMO.
Text reminders mooted for at-risk COVID-19 patients The Federal Health Minister has asked department officials for advice on ways of further raising awareness of oral antiviral treatments.
Government launches flu and COVID vaccine campaign At-risk patients have also been encouraged to talk to GPs about oral antiviral treatments if they are infected with COVID-19.
‘A critical enabler’: Telehealth successes and failings in focus A college submission to the ANAO highlights the positive impact of telehealth, as well as the enormous challenges created by rule changes and compliance.
Call on COVID vaccine for under-fives likely ‘in coming weeks’ With mRNA vaccines for children aged under-five now approved in US, authorities are actively considering a similar move in Australia.
COVID rate at least double official figures: Antibody study At least 17% of Australians may have contracted COVID-19 during the first Omicron wave, new research suggests – and the true figure could be even higher.
‘A real public health risk’: Study cites mobile phones as ‘Trojan horse’ in infection control Using swabs and DNA extraction, new research claims to have uncovered the fullest picture yet of the microbes found on mobile phones, with big implications for healthcare workers.
‘Major problem’: Winter COVID-19 vaccine doses under scrutiny Aged care facilities are being pushed to give all eligible residents a vaccine before the end of June, the Department of Health has confirmed.