Boosters are coming: What does the latest evidence suggest? Australia’s COVID vaccine booster program could start as soon as next month. An infectious diseases physician and immunology expert share their views on what shape it should take.
‘Fantastic’ partnership leads to state government-funded GP respiratory clinics The Victorian Government will help establish 20 new GP respiratory clinics across Melbourne. Both the RACGP President and state faculty chair hope it is a sign of things to come.
Long phone consultations end in NSW with hotspot change Outbreak status has been rescinded for the state, significantly limiting the use of the MBS item for extended phone consultations and removing access to PPE from the national medical stockpile.
How will Novavax fit into Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine plans? GPs will be involved in the rollout of Novavax if it is approved for use in Australia, the Federal Government has confirmed.
Vaccine hesitancy continues to fall – with one exception Uncertainty about vaccination is continuing to fall across the country with just one state bucking the downward trend, new figures suggest.
Doctors lead international ‘most trusted’ profession poll Faith in doctors has risen even higher since the pandemic began, seeing the profession overtake scientists for the first time.
‘Reassuring’ figures on breakthrough infections Deaths from ‘breakthrough’ infections are most likely to happen among the elderly but vaccination hugely diminishes risk, recent studies suggest.
Last-minute hotspot reprieve but GPs say uncertainty is impacting care Melbourne GPs can conduct longer phone consultations for at least another week after an eleventh-hour extension to Commonwealth-designated hotspots – but a looming deadline means the picture is less clear in NSW.
GPs join call for vaccine passports They say the phased introduction of vaccine passports could help prompt those still hesitating to come forward.
Study suggests Delta more than doubles death risk A new peer-reviewed article backs findings of much higher virulence in the Delta variant and its harsher impact on younger people compared to previous strains.