It's been a month since Coronacast took a break, and since then a lot has changed. The BA4 and 5 variants have become dominant, and immunologists are starting to worry about the state of play. Firstly, BA4 and 5 are acting a bit like new variants. They're evading vaccines and prior infections even more than original Omicron and there's no sign they're slowing down. And secondly, COVID case loads are surging and hospitals are feeling the pressure. So what else has changed over the last month, and...
Jul 19, 2022•13 min
There's been a bunch of good news this week about kids and COVID, including kids under 5 moving a touch closer to become eligible for vaccination A Scandanavian study has shown that before babies are born, they get an immune benefit from their vaccinated mother. Another study has looked at a rare condition that can happen in kids after COVID, called MIS-C, and found vaccinated kids are way more protected from it And also both Pfizer and Moderna have moved slightly closer to being registered for ...
Jun 14, 2022•12 min
There's been a bunch of good news this week about kids and COVID, including kids under 5 moving a touch closer to become eligible for vaccination A Scandanavian study has shown that before babies are born, they get an immune benefit from their vaccinated mother. Another study has looked at a rare condition that can happen in kids after COVID, called MIS-C, and found vaccinated kids are way more protected from it And also both Pfizer and Moderna have moved slightly closer to being registered for ...
Jun 14, 2022•12 min
This time last year, Australia's vaccination program was getting underway and many were coming forward for their first or second shots. But Australia's haven't embraced the third dose as quickly or in as large numbers. The third dose is vital for the best protection against disease, and is recommended for the majority of Australians. So why aren't people coming forward as quickly? Also on today's show: * Is it possible that we may have caught COVID without realising it? * Are there instances of ...
Jun 07, 2022•11 min
This time last year, Australia's vaccination program was getting underway and many were coming forward for their first or second shots. But Australia's haven't embraced the third dose as quickly or in as large numbers. The third dose is vital for the best protection against disease, and is recommended for the majority of Australians. So why aren't people coming forward as quickly? Also on today's show: * Is it possible that we may have caught COVID without realising it? * Are there instances of ...
Jun 07, 2022•11 min
Since the variant we now know as Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, it's proved to be a shapeshifter, spawning no fewer than five subvariants so far. Each have their own characteristics, but which is the most likely to become the dominant strain? There's finally enough data around to start making a comparison - so which subvariant will rule them all, what features give it the advantage, and what possible tools we might use to fight it? Also on today's show: * If I'm triple vaccinated a...
May 31, 2022•10 min
Since the variant we now know as Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, it's proved to be a shapeshifter, spawning no fewer than five subvariants so far. Each have their own characteristics, but which is the most likely to become the dominant strain? There's finally enough data around to start making a comparison - so which subvariant will rule them all, what features give it the advantage, and what possible tools we might use to fight it? Also on today's show: * If I'm triple vaccinated a...
May 31, 2022•10 min
While COVID continues to ravage the world, it's far from the only virus that's affecting humans at the moment. Cases of flu are soaring in Australia, and the Queensland Government is worried enough about it that it's offering all Queenslanders a free flu vaccination. And to add to that is a new outbreak of monkeypox in Europe and North America with 100 suspected and confirmed cases so far, though cases have not been severe. So what is Monkeypox, could it end up like COVID and how worried should ...
May 24, 2022•11 min
While COVID continues to ravage the world, it's far from the only virus that's affecting humans at the moment. Cases of flu are soaring in Australia, and the Queensland Government is worried enough about it that it's offering all Queenslanders a free flu vaccination. And to add to that is a new outbreak of monkeypox in Europe and North America with 100 suspected and confirmed cases so far, though cases have not been severe. So what is Monkeypox, could it end up like COVID and how worried should ...
May 24, 2022•11 min
We are only days away from the 2022 Federal Election, where we'll find out who'll be leading the country for the next few years. But for whoever wins, there's the huge reality of dealing with and managing the ongoing COVID pandemic, which is still killing an average of 40 Australians a day. COVID policy and response hasn't featured much during the election campaign. So on today's Coronacast, what COVID issues will face whoever wins office next? Also on today's show: * Our daughter tested positiv...
May 17, 2022•11 min
A British COVID report has finally answered a question many have had: can you get long COVID, even after you're triple vaccinated. And the answer is, sadly, yes. About eight to nine percent of people have some sort of long-COVID symptoms, even after they've had their third dose. But there is some good news: long COVID is still far lower in vaccinated people than in unvaccinated. Also on today's show: * What's happening with second generation vaccines? * How worried should we really be about surf...
May 10, 2022•11 min
While most of the Australian population is vaccinated against COVID-19, going by the amount of people who have died in 2022, this is by far the worst year of the pandemic. More than 5000 people have died so far this year, and another 30 or 40 are continuing to die on average each day at the moment. So on this week’s Coronacast, why have we stopped paying attention to deaths and can we do anything to reduce them? Also on today’s show: * Paxlovid is now part of the PBS. So what is the drug again? ...
May 03, 2022•11 min
When Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, scientists were shocked at how many mutations it had compared to previous variants. We now know that it's way more transmissible than previous variants and less nasty than Delta, although that hasn't stopped it from causing a lot of severe disease and death. But biology isn't static and Omicron has continued to evolve. First came BA1, then came a new wave of BA2 and now we're starting to see another new subvariant: BA4. So on today's Coronacast, ...
Apr 26, 2022•13 min
When Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, scientists were shocked at how many mutations it had compared to previous variants. We now know that it's way more transmissible than previous variants and less nasty than Delta, although that hasn't stopped it from causing a lot of severe disease and death. But biology isn't static and Omicron has continued to evolve. First came BA1, then came a new wave of BA2 and now we're starting to see another new subvariant: BA4. So on today's Coronacast, ...
Apr 26, 2022•13 min
China is fighting its largest coronavirus outbreak since the pandemic begun, but the lockdown being used to try and control it is facing resistance? Videos on social media appear to show small riots breaking out in parts of Shanghai while some residents are recording themselves screaming and yelling from their apartments in desperation. So is China's zero-COVID policy unable to withstand the onslaught of Omicron? And why is China resorting to lockdowns? Also on today's show: * How's COVID going ...
Apr 12, 2022•11 min
The race has well and truly been on for third dose COVID-19 vaccinations, but now add to that vaccination for the coming flu season. The past couple of years have seen a lull in flu infections because closed borders kept more than just COVID out — but that will change this year. So what happens if you get both COVID-19 and the flu and the same time? Is it even possible? And how do you reduce the risk of that happening? Also on today's show: * Why isn't Australia pulling its weight when it comes ...
Apr 05, 2022•11 min
The race has well and truly been on for third dose COVID-19 vaccinations, but now add to that vaccination for the coming flu season. The past couple of years have seen a lull in flu infections because closed borders kept more than just COVID out — but that will change this year. So what happens if you get both COVID-19 and the flu and the same time? Is it even possible? And how do you reduce the risk of that happening? Also on today's show: * Why isn't Australia pulling its weight when it comes ...
Apr 05, 2022•11 min
As the BA2 subvariant of Omicron infects its way to the top of the coronavirus leaderboard, we're thanking our lucky stars that it's not as or more severe than Delta. But imagine a coronavirus variant that has genes from both Omicron and Delta: enter Deltacron The ability for two variants to combine and share genetic information is possible, and according to recent research has already happened. So what's the possibility the next variant of concern will not be due to mutation, but instead combin...
Mar 29, 2022•11 min
With cases rising quickly again, it's left many wondering: wasn't the peak supposed to be behind us? Well, turns out the pandemic isn't over and a mix of relaxed restrictions and the BA2 sub-variant have combined to once again push up infections. It also shows that the rollercoaster ride that we're on may not be stopping for a while, and the up and down nature is something we'll have to get used to. Also on today's show: * Increase in diabetes with long COVID * More on if we're going to need a 4...
Mar 22, 2022•12 min
The sixth season of If You're Listening tells the story of Australia's turbulent history with climate change, and what that means for the future. As we approach a federal election where climate and energy is a key battleground, this eight episode series will examine how Australia wasted decades fighting change, instead of capitalising on it. This is a special listen of the first episode and is the only time it'll appear in the Coronacast feed, so if you want to check it out search for "Australia...
Mar 19, 2022•35 min
The sixth season of If You're Listening tells the story of Australia's turbulent history with climate change, and what that means for the future. As we approach a federal election where climate and energy is a key battleground, this eight episode series will examine how Australia wasted decades fighting change, instead of capitalising on it. This is a special listen of the first episode and is the only time it'll appear in the Coronacast feed, so if you want to check it out search for "Australia...
Mar 19, 2022•35 min
The sub-variant of Omicron, known at the moment as BA2, is being blamed for a rise in cases in NSW and likely in other states and territories. And overseas, Hong Kong is struggling with a wave which is killing more and more people due to low levels of vaccination in high risk age groups. So what could the sub-variant mean for Australia as the weather slowly cools down and we enter darker, cooler times? Also on today's show: * China goes into lockdown in several big cities * Australian researcher...
Mar 15, 2022•10 min
Occasionally, Coronacast gets a question from the audience that not only stumps them, it stumps the expert scientists as well. And this week, that question came from Helen who was wondering how many people before her had COVID and passed it on to someone else, stretching all the way from her back to Wuhan in China. It raises many interesting questions about viral evolution and how we can reduce the number of infections globally. Also on today's show: * BA2 Omicron sub-variant becoming more and m...
Mar 10, 2022•11 min
A study has found that COVID is associated with changes to the human brain in some people after they've been infected. The study, published in the journal Nature, has found brain related abnormalities in patients six months or so after their initial infection. The findings suggest this can happen regardless of severity but may be worse in those with severe disease Also on today's show: * My wife and I are in isolation at the moment after both testing positive to COVID. Her symptoms are worse tha...
Mar 08, 2022•12 min
A study has found that COVID is associated with changes to the human brain in some people after they've been infected. The study, published in the journal Nature, has found brain related abnormalities in patients six months or so after their initial infection. The findings suggest this can happen regardless of severity but may be worse in those with severe disease Also on today's show: * My wife and I are in isolation at the moment after both testing positive to COVID. Her symptoms are worse tha...
Mar 08, 2022•12 min
Did COVID escape from a lab? Was it natural evolution? How did it happen? These are all very big questions that scientists have been working on answering ever since SARS-CoV-2 arrived in our lives in late 2019. Now, the release of two (still to be peer reviewed) articles have outlined more evidence that COVID didn't escape a lab, and instead evolved naturally in animals before jumping to humans. And on today's Coronacast, they may have even found the very cage in the Wuhan market where COVID mad...
Mar 06, 2022•14 min
Did COVID escape from a lab? Was it natural evolution? How did it happen? These are all very big questions that scientists have been working on answering ever since SARS-CoV-2 arrived in our lives in late 2019. Now, the release of two (still to be peer reviewed) articles have outlined more evidence that COVID didn't escape a lab, and instead evolved naturally in animals before jumping to humans. And on today's Coronacast, they may have even found the very cage in the Wuhan market where COVID mad...
Mar 06, 2022•14 min
Western Australia has reopened its border after more than a year of staying shut off from the world as part of its COVID control strategy. While people can once again travel, WA is in the middle of a growing outbreak - but it has imposed restrictions to help flatten the curve. With WA now open again, Australia is once again whole - so how is the nation tracking for COVID and how does 2022 compare to previous years? Also on today's show: * The TGA provisionally approves AstraZeneca's combination ...
Mar 03, 2022•10 min
Western Australia has reopened its border after more than a year of staying shut off from the world as part of its COVID control strategy. While people can once again travel, WA is in the middle of a growing outbreak - but it has imposed restrictions to help flatten the curve. With WA now open again, Australia is once again whole - so how is the nation tracking for COVID and how does 2022 compare to previous years? Also on today's show: * The TGA provisionally approves AstraZeneca's combination ...
Mar 03, 2022•10 min
Last year was all about the push to vaccinate adults and teens against COVID-19, and despite a slow start we certainly got there in the end. Now this year the vaccine focus has turned to two things: third doses for adults, and first doses for younger kids. So how is the vaccine rollout for 5-11s going? How do the vaccines work in kids and what is the latest of safety and efficacy?
Feb 27, 2022•13 min
