Rollout of fifth COVID-19 booster shot on way for Australian adults
All adults who have not had a COVID-19 booster or a confirmed case in the past six months will be able to get another booster to give them additional protection against severe illness from COVID, as advised by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The recommendation for additional boosters comes into effect on […]
Australian researchers create anti-COVID cleaning spray
A long lasting surface spray that has the potential to kill viruses such as COVID-19 is currently being assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for commercial cleaning use including in hospitals. The spray contains a protein that allows it to stick to surfaces and remain effective for 24 hours. University of Queensland (UQ) researchers […]
How a nurse practitioner shifted to telehealth amid COVID-19
Before COVID-19 hit, Paediatric Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Dowden pondered implementing telehealth at her Perth-based clinic but ultimately considered it too costly and unviable. When the pandemic arrived, the goalposts suddenly changed. Speaking at the 2022 Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) National Conference, Stephanie shared her experience with adopting telehealth and its benefits and challenges. […]
How disposable PPE is being recycled to make stronger concrete
A new generation of nurses, midwives and carers have never practiced without wearing disposable PPE since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, research at RMIT is paving the way to reduce PPE waste, including gowns, face masks and rubber gloves, from landfill or incineration by using it to improve the strength and durability of […]
Pandemic-related complaints top calls to National Health Practitioner Ombudsman
A sharp increase in people raising concerns about regulatory responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including obligations around mandatory vaccination, drove a record number of approaches to the office of the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) during 2021-22, new data has revealed. The NHPO’s recently released annual report shows it received 1,593 approaches in 2021-22, up […]
ANMF concerned by removal of COVID-19 safety measures
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has expressed concern that the mandatory COVID isolation period will be scrapped for people who test positive apart from hospital and aged care workers. ANMF Federal Assistant Secretary, Lori-Anne Sharp said that we were yet to see the real impact of dropping the isolation period from seven to […]
Women’s health deteriorates during COVID-19 pandemic
Four out of 10 women believe their health has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Jean Hailes National Women’s Health Survey has revealed. Conducted during March-May, this year’s survey, which attracted more than 14,000 respondents, focused on researching the impact of COVID-19 on women’s health and wellbeing. The survey revealed a sharp drop in […]
Gut linked to harsher COVID-19 outcomes
Research from Flinders University has uncovered a molecular link between COVID-19 and serotonin cells in the gut. Authors suggest the findings could help provide further clues to what could be driving COVID-19 infection and disease severity, with the link supporting previous evidence that antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), could reduce the severity […]
Nurse-led techniques help reduce children’s vaccination and needle fear
Children’s vaccination and needle fear can be lowered when nurses spend additional time supporting them during the process, new research from the University of South Australia has found. With vaccinations becoming more regular, researchers set out to explore ways to help reduce the tears, tantrums and distress many children display because of needle-related fear. Working […]
Defence force support in aged care extended amid rising COVID-19 outbreaks
The federal government is extending and expanding Australian Defence Force (ADF) support for aged care homes battling COVID-19 outbreaks until the end of September. Defence force personnel have provided clinical and non-clinical support to aged care homes experiencing COVID-19 related staff shortages since February. In response to the latest surge, which shows more than a […]