Wild results from chlamydia vaccine trial for koalas
A world-first study to vaccinate a wild koala population against the deadly chlamydia disease has exceeded all expectations, researchers say.
vaccines
Early-season flu spike prompts call to get vaccination
The Queensland premier and chief health officer are urging residents to get flu jabs after more than 6300 influenza cases have been recorded this year so far.
Top doctor’s flu warning ahead of virus triple threat
The former face of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Dr Nick Coatsworth, is urging Australians not to make the same mistake he did about the flu vaccine.
Scientists develop new vaccine for encephalitis in pigs
Scientists have developed a new Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine for pigs to help stop the spread of this mosquito-borne disease.
Omicron jab gets provisional green light
A Pfizer booster that specifically tackles two Omicron COVID-19 variants has been given provisional approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Virus cases dip in lead-up to Christmas
The latest peaks of COVID-19 cases are falling around the country, but one state is battling a surge in infections.
Queensland close to testing world-first gonorrhoea vaccine
Clinical trials of a world-first gonorrhoea vaccine could be a year away as the problem of antibiotic resistance becomes increasingly pressing around the world.
Interim tick for Pfizer infant booster
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has given provisional approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 booster to be used in children aged six months to five years.
Australia remains vulnerable to new COVID-19 variants: review
Australia is not well-prepared should another variant of COVID-91 sweep through the country, a review of vaccine and treatment procurement has found.
Mask mandate call to curb COVID cases
A leading Australian health expert has called for a return of mask mandates, saying governments dropped the ball responding to the COVID Omicron variant.
COVID-19 nation’s third biggest killer
More people are thought to have died from COVID-19 this year than some of the country's largest killers, such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Too early to tell virus has peaked: Butler
Health Minister Mark Butler says the government is yet to confirm the peak of the current COVID-19 wave has been reached.
Kids’ noses better at fighting COVID-19
The lining of a child's nose may be better at staving off the coronavirus than that of an adult, according to Australian researchers.
Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 cases in aged care
There are nearly 10,000 active COVID-19 cases linked to aged care homes around the country and nearly 3400 older people have died since the pandemic began.
Air quality vital in taming COVID: expert
Improving indoor air quality will be key to long-term efforts against COVID-19 and a national approach is needed, a leading epidemiologist has told a committee.
Texts urge disabled to get virus booster
More than a million disability pensioners and their carers will be the focus of a text message campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Vaccine patch combats COVID variants
Queensland researchers testing a needle-free vaccine patch have found it has better efficacy in neutralising COVID-19 than traditionally administered jabs.
Nurses raise concerns over COVID-19 wave
A nurses' union has called on the public to double down on limiting the spread of COVID-19 amid concerns for the wellbeing of healthcare workers.
Toddler dies with COVID as infections rise
A toddler has become one of more than 11,000 Australians to die with COVID-19, with the estimated number of adults infected tripling since February.
Novovax provisional approval for over 12s
Australian adolescents could soon have access to Nuvaxovid, after the COVID-19 vaccine gained provisional approval from the TGA.
Virus response disadvantages young Aussies
Young Australians have been disproportionately disadvantaged from the COVID-19 pandemic response, according to a report.
Vic COVID-19 rules were misunderstood
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has found confusing language in the state's pandemic orders made the restrictions difficult to understand.
Qld defends $40m hotel quarantine spend
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says criticising government spending on hotel quarantine is like "throwing rocks from the cheap seats."
Woman charged over fake vax certificate
Police say a woman used a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate so she could work as an administrator at a western Sydney primary school.
COVID-19 isolation requirements stay: PM
The seven-day isolation period for people with COVID-19 will remain but workers unable to go to their jobs will be able to claim $750 from Wednesday.
Unions welcome govt’s payment backflip
Australian unions support the federal government reversing a decision to end paid COVID-19 pandemic leave.
National cabinet to meet on virus response
National cabinet will meet next week for a briefing from health officials on the latest COVID-19 surge across Australia.
Pressure mounts over COVID-19 payments
The federal government is under fire for not extending pandemic leave payments for those needing to isolate, as COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb.
NSW shifts aged-care COVID vaccine rules
Visitors to aged-care homes in NSW won't have to be vaccinated against COVID-19 under changes approved by Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant.
Qld premier calls for national virus talks
Annastacia Palaszczuk says fellow premier Dominic Perrottet supports her call for a national cabinet meeting so leaders can be briefed on COVID-19.
COVID-19 providing ‘real challenges’: PM
The prime minister says he will work closely alongside states and territories to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during the winter surge.