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Cancer prevention and care efforts have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, resulting in a decline in the global Human Development Index (HDI), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These challenges and subsequent shifts in health care priorities underscore the need to continuously monitor cancer outcome disparities and statistics globally to ensure delivery of equitable and optimal cancer prevention and care in uncertain times.
Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in Australia commenced in February 2021. The first vaccines recommended for use were AZD1222 and BNT162b2, both delivered as a two-dose primary schedule. In the absence of sustained immunity following immunisation, recommendations for booster vaccination have followed. It is likely that periodic boosting will be necessary for at least some Australians, but it is unknown what the optimal booster vaccines and schedules are or for whom vaccination should be recommended.
PICOBOO is a randomised, adaptive trial evaluating the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 booster strategies. We report data for second boosters among individuals 50-<70 years old primed with AZD1222 (50-<70y-AZD1222) until Day 84.
People living with rare diseases had a high risk of negative health outcomes due to COVID-19. Pandemic preparedness will ensure best practice procedures and optimal outcomes during future pandemic events. This paper sought to understand the needs of children with rare diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform preparation for future pandemic and disaster events. First, impacts and outcomes from the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with rare disease were identified in the literature.
The primary objectives of this study were to assess the usefulness of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in the diagnosis of bacterial co-infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and if their incorporation in antimicrobial stewardship programs is safe and useful, stratified by severity of disease as level of care, intensive care unit (ICU) or non-ICU.
The COVID-19 pandemic evidenced the critical role of vaccination in reducing the severity of illness and the risk of infection. Despite the policies and efforts of governments to increase vaccination uptake, COVID-19 immunization among Australian Aboriginal pregnant women is lower compared to vaccine uptake of non-Indigenous pregnant women.
Global rates of invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease surged from September 2022, exceeding pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, showing atypical seasonality and disproportionately affecting children. We previously described the epidemiology of iGAS among Australian children from mid-2018 to end 2022 using data from the Paediatric Active Enhanced Diseases network and here provide updated clinical epidemiology for 2023 and 2024 to help inform public health strategies.
Vaccine mandates were widely implemented against COVID-19, and a large and multidisciplinary literature has emerged as a result, covering fields such as epidemiology, economics, ethics, and law. We compiled an openly available repository of this literature, including 503 studies on COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Influenza remains an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Immunisation is critical to prevent hospitalisation and severe disease. The COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching effects on influenza epidemiology and vaccine use.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove the implementation of vaccine mandates to protect spaces and/or increase vaccine uptake, though their design, timing, and scope varied across jurisdictions. This study examines the associations of vaccine mandate announcements and removals with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in France, Italy, and California (USA).