What's That Rash? - TopPodcast.com

Are mobile phones giving us cancer? Nov 20, 2024

These days, our mobile phones are rarely far away. Whether it’s in your hand, your pocket, or under your pillow at night.

Mobiles do emit radiation in order to connect to phone towers, which enables us to stay in contact with people and the internet.

But is that radiation doing us harm?

Norman and Tegan talk through the facts – what we do know, don’t know and suspect about our tech companions.

What's That Rash? is coming to YouTube! Keep an eye out for the video version of this episode on ABC Science.

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Should you be avoiding nightshades? Nov 13, 2024

Why are people with arthritis being told to stop eating potatoes, tomatoes and egg plants?

Vegetables in the nightshade family have been under scrutiny for decades, but the fad of cutting them out of our diets has seen a recent resurgence.

Norman and Tegan investigate where all this shade comes from, and whether there's any evidence to support it.

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Is NAD+ a miracle anti-ageing supplement? Nov 06, 2024

We've been searching for a fountain of youth for millennia. How can we not only live longer, but live healthier for longer?

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is the latest anti-ageing candidate under the microscope.

Norman and Tegan explain what it is, and whether supplements promising to boost NAD actually do what's advertised on the bottle.

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How medical mysteries fed monster myths Oct 30, 2024

Vampires and werewolves and zombies, oh my! Where did all these monsters come from?

Undiagnosed medical conditions might have fuelled the mythology behind some of these creatures.

Norman and Tegan delve into why vampires drink blood, why werewolves howl at the full moon and how a hex might have its intended effect.

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Can't stop sneezing? What to do when hay fever hits Oct 23, 2024

It’s hay fever season, and as you sniffle away next to an air purifier, you might be wondering why we haven’t cured such a common ailment.

Allergic rhinitis, as it’s scientifically known, has plagued people for generations. It's thought up to 24 per cent of Australians suffer from it.

Norman and Tegan run through what hay fever is, how we identified it and what can be done to treat it.

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What on earth is grounding?! Oct 16, 2024

Many of us are disconnected from nature – we live in cities, work in offices, exercise indoors.

There is a hypothesis that our disconnection from the earth itself – the ground – is causing a range of illnesses.

But the people selling this hypothesis are also trying to sell you a range of expensive products.

Norman and Tegan debunk a pseudoscience that has been gaining traction.

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MSG's messy myths and racist tropes Oct 09, 2024

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer that often gets a bad wrap.

You might know someone who swears it makes them sick, or you yourself might steer clear of foods unless they have that 'no added MSG' label.

Norman and Tegan explain why the bad PR around MSG has more to do with shonky research and misconceptions than the ingredient itself.

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Why is the internet telling me to lower my cortisol? Oct 02, 2024

If you've found yourself in a particular corner of health and wellness TikTok, chances are you've heard all about cortisol.

Influencers might be urging you to massage your face, stuff your mouth full of dates and even supplement your diet with sea moss.

Norman and Tegan explain why some of that MIGHT make you healthier, but not in the way that you think.

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Is melatonin the answer to a good night's sleep? Sep 25, 2024

If you've ever complained about a bad night's sleep, you might've been urged to take melatonin.

It's a hormone our bodies naturally produce, and also a supplement that many claim can cure insomnia and leave you better rested.

But Norman and Tegan tuck into all the reasons we shouldn't be taking melatonin lightly.

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What it takes to avoid iron deficiency Sep 18, 2024

Iron deficiency is incredibly common, especially in menstruating women.

But this mineral is vital. Our bodies use iron to make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen to our cells.

Norman and Tegan take us through what it means to have adequate iron levels, and what it takes.

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Why do hangovers get worse as we age? Sep 11, 2024

It's a tale as old as time – as you age, hangovers hit harder. The tolerance of your youth wastes away.

There's no doubt that any alcohol consumption is bad for you. But that doesn’t mean people aren't drinking.

Norman and Tegan explain what alcohol is doing to the body, and why the after effects get harder to cope with as you get older.

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Rapid-fire round: Answering your sleep questions Sep 04, 2024

We get a LOT of questions about sleep – on everything from cheese dreams to sleep farts.

Why do you jerk awake as you're drifting off? Why are you itchy as soon as you get into bed?

Norman and Tegan snooze through some sleep-related questions in this rapid-fire special.

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Can you zap yourself buff with electrical muscle stimulation? Aug 28, 2024

It might not seem like it, but we humans are electrical beings. We rely on electrical impulses to stay alive.

So can we rely on electrical impulses … to get swole?

Norman and Tegan investigate the various claims surrounding electrical muscle stimulation.

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Why Norman won't shut up about the Mediterranean diet Aug 21, 2024

The Mediterranean diet is the most well studied dietary pattern out there. So – what is it?

It’s more than just vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and sparing consumption of meat.

Norman and Tegan take us through ALL the elements that make up this way of eating, which has been attributed to a myriad of health benefits.

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Sweaty sauna bathing for better health Aug 14, 2024

In some parts of the world sauna bathing is a daily activity.

In Finland, it would even be rude to deny an invitation to get hot and sweaty with a business associate.

As well as being culturally significant, the sauna has many touted health benefits – from protecting against cardiovascular disease, to fending off cognitive decline.

Norman and Tegan sort through the evidence.

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Can't stop biting your nails? Aug 07, 2024

Many people go through phases of nail biting in childhood, and fewer people continue biting their nails into adulthood.

It's a habit that can be difficult to break – especially when anxiety can be a trigger, along with boredom.

Norman and Tegan take us through the current treatments available for people who want to stop munching on their cuticles.

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Is being an Olympian bad for your health? Jul 31, 2024

If you're glued to your couch watching the Paris Games, you know that elite athletes are beyond impressive.

But does that mean they're healthy? Not necessarily.

Norman and Tegan unpack the positive and negative impacts of elite-level sport on the body and the mind.

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Are office jobs ruining our bodies? Jul 24, 2024

Offices are catching up to the idea that sitting for eight hours a day might not be great for your health.

Standing desks, adjustable monitors and hand rests are common tools in the arsenal of ergonomics.

But are we getting it all wrong? Norman and Tegan dispel some myths about the impact of office jobs on the body.

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What does sneezing have to do with orgasms? Jul 17, 2024

Bodies are weird … but are they THAT weird?

Sexually-induced sneezing has been written about in medical texts for hundreds of years.

In this live episode from the World Science Festival Brisbane, Norman and Tegan explain what it is, and why it might happen.

References

Sneezing induced by sexual ideation or orgasm: an under-reported phenomenon

Norman tried an ice bath so you don't have to Jul 10, 2024

You've either seen it, or you've tried it. Ice baths are all the rage right now, in part because they claim to be an effective health and wellbeing booster.

Is this just a fad, or is there solid evidence that dipping into freezing cold water can improve your immune system, calm down inflammation and better your mood?

Norman went for the plunge – and lived to tell Tegan the tale.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

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How risky is sharing a toothbrush? Jul 03, 2024

Once you get past the initial ick-factor of toothbrush sharing, it's worth considering whether there are any actual harms.

Whether we like it or not, our mouths are home to a unique microbiome.

As Norman and Tegan explain, it's influenced by what we eat, who we kiss – and yes, who we might share a toothbrush with.

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Is gluten really the enemy? Jun 26, 2024

There's no doubt people with coeliac disease should stay away from gluten, but what about the rest of us?

There is nothing inherently harmful about gluten when it doesn’t cause you gut trouble.

Norman and Tegan talk us through why a gluten-free diet is not necessarily a healthy one.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

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Phlegm — better out than in? Jun 19, 2024

Feeling yuck? Have you ever wondered about the purpose of all that gunk you're coughing up?

At least one of our listeners has … and she wants to know whether there’s any benefit to spitting or swallowing…

In this live episode from the World Science Festival Brisbane, Norman and Tegan take us through the answer.

Is botox worth a shot? Jun 12, 2024

It might feel like this wrinkle-busting procedure has been around forever, but it's a relatively recent cosmetic concoction.

At first, it was a procedure for already aged skin. Now 20-somethings are using it to try prevent wrinkles from ever forming.

Norman and Tegan unpack how we got to this point, and the do's and dont's of the procedure.

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Should we all be vegetarian? Jun 05, 2024

For the meat eaters still out there, you may be wondering how much is too much when it comes to your health.

You will have to weigh up the benefits and the harms.

Norman and Tegan take us through the recommendations, and the science to back them up.

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Is apple cider vinegar a cure-all tonic? May 29, 2024

Apple cider vinegar is revered in wellness spaces for its health-giving benefits, but is there anything to it?

There are claims it can aid with weight loss, boost your gut microbiome and manage blood sugar levels.

Norman and Tegan explain how this salad dressing became so famous, and what the science tells us.

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Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Can you train yourself to sleep less? May 22, 2024

Sometimes 24 hours doesn’t feel like nearly enough time to get everything done — those to-do lists aren't going to check themselves.

Especially when you're spending around eight hours of that time in bed.

Norman and Tegan assess whether it's possible to train yourself to sleep less without any of the negatives.

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Why everything hurts when you turn 30 May 15, 2024

It's an age-old adage that youth is wasted on the young – you don't know what you’ve got until it's gone.

The aches and pains that start to linger longer as you approach your 30s can feel like a rite of passage.

Norman and Tegan explore why this happens, and whether it's inevitable.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

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Can sudoku really keep your brain younger for longer? May 08, 2024

Dementia is common – more than 400,000 Australians are living with it – but it’s not an inevitable part of ageing.

There are ways to lower your risk, and the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

Norman and Tegan give us the top tips needed to lower your risk of developing the illness as you get older.

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A single glass of red wine for your health, yeah or nah? May 01, 2024

Much has been said about the single glass of red wine. It's good for you, it’s bad for you, it's good for you again.

It can be confusing to follow.

Norman and Tegan take on this age-old health question — does a single glass of red wine have health boosting benefits?

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Your emotional support water bottle is probably too big Apr 24, 2024

Do you have your water bottle beside you right now? How close are you to reaching your daily water goal?

It can feel like a slog sometimes to meet the recommended two lites of water a day.

Norman and Tegan pour over the evidence to find out whether it's REALLY necessary to drink that much.

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How can you boost your immune system? Apr 17, 2024

As the weather cools down, you may be noticing more people around you are dropping from cold or flu.

And with COVID-19 also in the mix, it’s understandable that many are wondering how they can boost their immunity to avoid getting sick so often.

Norman and Tegan take us through some of the approaches that have the evidence to back them up (and the ones that don’t).

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Is it safe to dose yourself with pre-workout? Apr 10, 2024

It can sometimes be tough to summon the motivation and energy to go to exercise.

Well, there’s a product for that and it’s gaining popularity.

Pre-workout mixtures come in powders, pills, drinks, gummies — you name it, they’ve got it.

Norman and Tegan run through what they actually contain, and what the evidence says about their effectiveness…

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

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How do over-the-counter painkillers compare? Apr 03, 2024

When you get a headache, what do you reach for? Ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol?

Over-the-counter painkillers can be difficult to differentiate, but they do vary, not only in their effectiveness but also in their side effects.

Norman and Tegan talk us through how these drugs work, and which one might be best depending on your situation.

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Restless Legs Syndrome and how it's treated Mar 27, 2024

Restless Legs Syndrome is a common condition with somewhat mysterious underpinnings…

While it can be a side effect on an underlying condition, many people suffer for no known reason.

Norman and Tegan take us through what we know, what we suspect and some of the treatments for those jittery legs…

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Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Kate's cancer announcement: What do we know about her health? Mar 23, 2024

Kate Middleton announced via a video message that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Princess of Wales has been out of the public eye since Christmas. This is the first official announcement about her condition since she revealed she would be undergoing planned abdominal surgery in January.

So what What do we know about Kate's cancer diagnosis? What is the likely treatment? And, given she is relatively young, what's the message for people who do have unexpected new symptoms?

What is preventative chemotherapy? What could treatment look like? What are some of the side effects of chemotherapy? How long does it take to recover from? We're answering the health questions everyone's asking on What's That Rash?

Is your (artificial) sweet tooth killing you? Mar 20, 2024

Did you know that we're evolutionarily predisposed to seek out sweet treats?

Simple carbs were harder to come by in caveman times than they are today. Now, the consensus is we all need to cut down our sugar intake.

One way people are doing that is by replacing their sucrose with non-sugar sweeteners.

Norman and Tegan explore whether this is actually a healthy alternative.

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Pimples, spots and pleuks: The who, why and what (to do) Mar 13, 2024

Although it’s often thought of as an adolescent affliction, acne can affect people well into adulthood.

But some people seem to be immune to pimples. Why?

Norman and Tegan investigate why some people are more prone to pimples than others, and what you might be able to do about it.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Why are mosquitoes so attracted to me? Mar 06, 2024

Some people are mosquito magnets. The blood suckers do, in fact, have their favourites.

And this could pose a major health risk. After all, mosquitoes are the deadliest creatures on earth.

Norman and Tegan take us through the science of why some people attract more mozzies than others.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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We're doing a live show! Bring your rash to Brisbane March 22 Mar 04, 2024

What's That Rash? is coming to the World Science Festival Brisbane!

Bring yourself (and your non-communicable rash) to a live podcast recording with Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor.

We've got two double passes to give away to the Social Science event on March 22 for those who'll be in Brisbane.

Send us your questions for a chance to win. AND it's an adults-only event with mature content and coarse language, so go wild — thatrash@abc.net.au

We're not the only ones attending. All in the Mind will also be doing a live show, and Dr Karl will be there for some Great Moments in Science!

Are hormones hindering your workout? Feb 28, 2024

Have you ever been told to 'listen to your body' when it comes to fitness?

It makes sense. You shouldn't push through injury, or past the point of exhaustion.

But how far is too far? There are now dozens of apps and hundreds of advice columns on how best to 'listen to your body'.

One strategy that's rising in the ranks is adjusting your workout routine to work alongside your menstrual cycle.

Norman and Tegan explore whether this kind of tech is advancing faster than the research.

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Why do we have wisdom teeth? Feb 21, 2024

The only time most of us think about wisdom teeth is when they’re causing trouble.

Do they have a use beyond causing pain (and leaving you with a hefty dental bill)?

Norman and Tegan talk through the history of these meddlesome molars, and what happens when you ignore them.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Multivitamins: Are they a scam? Feb 14, 2024

Let's say you're a pretty healthy person. You have a balanced diet, exercise regularly and don't have any health issues. A multivitamin can only help, right?

Not necessarily. There are lots of multivitamins out there, catering to different circumstances.

Norman and Tegan take us through the evidence for (and against) taking these catch-all supplements.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Are chiropractors charlatans or misunderstood? Feb 07, 2024

Thousands of Australians see a chiropractor for relief from back pain, headaches or stiffness.

There has been a level of controversy surrounding the profession since its inception in the 19th century.

But looking beyond the field's storied history, where does the evidence stand now on chiropractic?

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Does anti-ageing skincare actually work? Jan 31, 2024

There are so many weird and wonderful skin potions out there, promising to fend off or reverse the signs of ageing.

But do they work? And if so, how do they work?

Norman and Tegan take us through their skincare routines (and some evidence, of course).

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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What's the deal with night terrors? Jan 24, 2024

Night terrors are distressing awakenings of intense screaming, thrashing and fear that often happen at the same time each night.

They're more common in children than in adults, but they can hang around or emerge later in life.

Norman takes us through his own childhood night terror, and Tegan weighs in on some of the reasons they happen in the first place.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Why do we eat cereal for breakfast? Jan 17, 2024

Have you ever been chastised for eating a bowl of cereal for lunch? Or having leftovers for breakfast?

There are certain foods designed 'breakfast foods' in the collective imagination: eggs, toast, cornflakes, pancakes.

But the stories of how they came to earn their morning timeslot are far from science-based.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Working out? Why 'No Pain No Gain' is bull Jan 10, 2024

No pain, no gain — right?

Well, if you're looking to build muscle, not necessarily. Chasing discomfort might even slow you down.

Norman and Tegan discuss delayed-onset muscle soreness, and why it's not always indicative of a good workout.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Is there such thing as TOO much sun protection? Jan 03, 2024

Because of the country's high UV levels, Australians hear a lot about the risks of sun exposure. But there are some benefits too.

Sunlight enables us to produce vitamin D for strong bones and immune function. But there are other ways rays can help our health.

Norman and Tegan take a look at how the right dose of sunlight can be beneficial.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Can you adapt to allergies or does the dog have to go? Dec 27, 2023

Pet allergies can range from mild to severe — from a nuisance to, occasionally, anaphylaxis.

When all you've got is some itchiness and a runny nose, are you doomed to a life without a furry friend?

Norman and Tegan discuss the possibility of building up a tolerance to allergens.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Why do you feel so tired after a big meal? Dec 20, 2023

It's holiday season, and family feasts are inevitable. But is the post-feast nap also inevitable?

Norman and Tegan explain why you get so tired after a big meal. And no ... it has nothing to do with being around your extended family.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

Can listening to music make you smarter? Dec 13, 2023

Binaural beats are a phenomenon that happens in your brain when you listen to two different tones in each ear.

There are lots of claims surrounding them — that they can trigger different brain waves and promote different states of mind.

Norman and Tegan are here to unpack whether there's any evidence this musical illusion can aid with concentration.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Am I addicted to caffeine? Dec 06, 2023

Caffeine is a part of many people's routines, whether it be a shot of coffee or a cup of tea.

If you've ever noticed a headache creeping in when you've missed your morning cup of joe, Norman and Tegan are here to explain why.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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What is the perfect nap duration? Nov 29, 2023

Napping can be risky. Will you wake up feeling better or worse?

There's no doubt that sometimes an afternoon snooze is an absolute necessity.

Norman and Tegan explore what's going on when you nap, and what you can do to get the most benefit.

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Are probiotics worth the money? Nov 22, 2023

If you've ever been told to take a probiotic — after a course of antibiotics, or just for your general health — you may be wondering what they actually do.

Well, Norman and Tegan are here to dig into the research about these over-the-counter supplements, which claim to support digestion, boost immunity and even improve mood.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

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Does it matter whether I enjoy exercise? Nov 15, 2023

Consistent exercise is good for you, but does it make any difference whether you actually enjoy what you're doing?

Norman and Tegan explore how fun might help you establish a work-out habit that benefits your body and your mind.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Looking for COVID-19 updates? Don't panic, they've moved over to The Health Report

End of Coronacast, but we're not going away! Nov 08, 2023

As the saying goes: All good things must come to an end. But don't go away, we've got something big coming!

Obviously we're not talking about the pandemic — as it certainly isn't good and it certainly isn't over.

We're talking about Coronacast: your little pandemic friend that (hopefully!) helped you through the scary times over the last three years.

Today is Coronacast's last episode, and we're going out with a bang! What's going on with case numbers (spoiler: rising again)? Are we finally seeing the rise of a new variant? And what do we think we've learned over the last three years?

BUT DON'T UNSUBSCRIBE! While Coronacast will be leaving us like OG SARS-CoV-2, Tegan and Norman aren't going anywhere.

They'll be staying right here with a new show that's all about answering the health questions everyone's asking!

We know good health information is hard to come by and it's impossible to know who to trust. So send in your your health questions to our new show: What's That Rash?

Every week, Norman and Tegan will have a swing at answering them, and give you some useful information and amazing stories to help you live a healthier life.

Email us at thatrash@abc.net.au. First episode out 15th November.

Also, genuinely, A MASSIVE thank you to every single person whose ever listened to Coronacast and/or sent in a question over the past few years.

Without you, we've never have done more than 500 episodes over more than three years. You're the reason we're here and the reason we've loved doing this show. So thankyou!

INTRODUCING — Hello AI Overlords (and some Coronacast news!) Oct 25, 2023

Hello Coronacasters - it's been a while! We have a little bit of news to share about what's coming up for Coronacast.

Also, Tegan's here to share a very special podcast recommendation!

It's a new season of Science Friction! It's called Hello AI Overlords - and it's an entire season diving deep into AI. Where's it come from? Where are we heading? And what happens if it's controlled by only a handful of people.

So make sure you check it out right now! Tell all your friends. And why not tell ChatGPT too.

Getting a (strong) grip on Long COVID Sep 27, 2023

There's still so much to learn about COVID, and this week we have two big things about Long COVID and how long we spread the virus.

Firstly, a recent study has drawn a link between hand grip strength and post Long COVID symptoms, especially when it comes to who gets it and how badly.

And secondly, a study from Hong Kong has tried to nail down what's going on in a person's immune system and how that effects the duration of shedding the virus.

That's on this week's Coronacast.

(And please note, we're taking the next few weeks off! But we'll be back in October)

When will we be out of the COVID pandemic phase? Sep 20, 2023

It's a question that we've been asking since the very beginning of the pandemic: when will it really end?

It's easy to think that because people are vaccinated and less attention is paid to COVID, it's over.

In reality more than 5000 people have died of COVID this year, and the disease burden rises every time there's a new variant.

On today's Coronacast, a chat with Professor Brendan Crabb, an infectious disease expert who heads up the Burnet Institute on how he thinks the past several years have gone, and whether COVID will remain a forever virus.

We're finally feeling a bit less lonely! Sep 13, 2023

The COVID pandemic brought on a whole bunch of change to nearly everyone in the world.

All of a sudden people were under lockdowns, out of work, unable to see their loved ones, even fighting for their lives.

But ever so steadily, things have improved. Vaccines came along and we tried to get back to normal. But for some that’s not so easy.

According to a survey from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare - we’re feeling less lonely than we were in the early days of the pandemic.

But, sadly, it’s not all great news.

That’s on this week’s Coronacast.

Why the risk of Long COVID might be falling Sep 06, 2023

One of the big scary unknowns that remains with COVID is long-COVID.

There are hundreds of thousands of Australians with the condition.

But little bit by little bit, researchers are working out more and more about it.

And in some good news - it seems that the risk of long-COVID has fallen over the last couple of years.

Also, why shoving certain drugs up your nose might help avoid COVID in the first place.

That’s on this week’s Coronacast

Where have all the new variants gone? Aug 30, 2023

In the early days of COVID, it seemed like we were getting new variants of concern every few months.

Wuhan led to Alpha then to Delta via a side trip to Beta for parts of the world.

But ever since Omicron came in like a wrecking ball at the end of 2021... sure there has been a lot of new sub-variants, but no new challenger to take on the Big Boss.

So could Omicron be the final variant? Are things starting to settle down? Will saying this mean a new variant is around the corner?

All the big questions on this week's Coroncast.

Pirola! An asteroid? Football player? No, it's the latest strain! Aug 23, 2023

It seems like a mere week ago that we were talking about the last new variant - because it was only a week ago.

Move over Eris, there's a new variant in town: Pirola.

Unlike most of the recent strains going around, this one branched off further back in the Omicron family tree.

But what of the usual questions: is it better at evading immunity? Does it cause worse disease? How do I protect myself? Also, how normal is it for a virus to mutate this much? Is it really moving this quickly, or is just because we're watching it so closely?

That's on this week's Coronacast.

Hello furry mammal are you the next pandemic? Aug 16, 2023

Wherever you look, viruses are going into and coming out of animals.

Mostly this happens without much fanfare, though occasionally it causes big problems.

Which is why it's concerning that researchers in Europe have started to sound the alarm about fur farms in Europe and other researchers looking at pig farms have found more swine flu variants than they expected.

So what's going on?

References:

Can picking your nose lead to COVID Aug 09, 2023

If you think that excavating your nose is a harmless if somewhat disgusting habit - think again.

A new study reckons you could emerge with COVID-19.

Other studies worry about how forgetful having your fingernail so close to the brain might make you. And have you ever given thought to your nasal microbiome much less what our primate cousins get up to (hint: it's even more disgusting)?

We drill deep on rhinotillexis.

References

How you and 200 friends can save one hospitalisation Aug 02, 2023

We've said it before and we'll say it again - make sure you get your booster dose.

But what, you ask, is in it for me? How likely am I to be the one who dodges severe disease?

Well a new study has quantified this. It's a number familiar to epidemiologists - the number needed to treat to prevent a certain outcome.

Also this week: where are we at with repurposing existing drugs to prevent COVID?

What's happening with flu numbers? And who was Tegan's surprise fluffy office visitor?

COVID's not alone in the wastewater Jul 26, 2023

In the early days of COVID, we used wastewater surveillance to spot undetected community transmission.

Our sewage gave public health authorities early alerts that COVID was spreading.

Wastewater surveillance also gives information on sub variants: what's on the rise and what's in decline.

But there's other stuff in wastewater - and it's downright criminal.

That's captured on today's rather smelly Coronacast.

References:

How do COVID antivirals work? And what's with the rebound? Jul 19, 2023

A lot has been said about COVID antivirals, especially on how they might help bring down the number of deaths from the disease.

But occasionally an interesting phenomenon occurs: a patient takes the antiviral drugs, feels better, only to come down with COVID again.

So how do COVID antivirals work and why does the rebound sometimes happen?

What's RSV again? The *other* winter virus that's hitting hard Jul 12, 2023

It's the depths of winter, and every second person you know has a cold of some sort.

Most are mild but some can hit hard - as we all know from COVID and influenza. But what about the third virus in the unholy trinity of winter bugs?

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is tracking a lot higher than usual for this time of year.

Who's most at risk, how can you protect yourself, and how much do the numbers have to do with increased testing overall? Oh, and what does "syncytial" even mean?

What happened to Sweden? We're answering your questions! Jul 05, 2023

It was a massive question at the start of the pandemic: is Sweden's strategy of keeping things open a better way forward?

Zoom ahead a few years, and it's still on the minds of Coronacast listeners.

This week, we're digging into what happened in Sweden and we also answer a question about the psychological impact of the pandemic on teenagers.

Everything and more, on this week's Coronacast.

Ask a question here: https://yourquestions.abc.net.au/hc/en-au/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360002468535

Is this why it feels like everyone keeps getting COVID? Jun 28, 2023

Our immune system does an amazing job keeping us healthy - but it works in mysterious ways, especially when it comes into contact with novel viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

We've talked a bit before about imprinting - the concept where the first time your immune system sees a virus can determine how it'll react to that virus in the future.

And a recent study in the prestigious journal Science has found the Omicron variant could be taking advantage of that - possibly showing why people seem to be getting repeat Omicron infections.

So what could this mean for public vaccination strategy and our risk of reinfection?

What makes a COVID superspreader? Jun 21, 2023

We've all heard that COVID spreads in clusters and sometimes the cluster comes from a single person who can infect nearly everyone around them.

They're superspreaders and it's been opaque how much virus a superspreader is actually responsible for spreading around.

Now a study has found that in a group of deliberately infected people, just two of them were responsible for nearly 90 percent of all the virus emitted - even though they only had mild symptoms.

What could a diabetes drug do for long COVID? Jun 14, 2023

Sometimes a study comes along that shows some amazing results and one published in The Lancet does just that.

The study - which looked at people aged between 30 and 85 who were overweight or had obesity - has found a "globally available, low-cost, and safe" diabetes drug called metformin could drastically reduce the instances of long COVID by 40 per cent.

Sadly they didn't find the same results with ivermectin (and they looked).

So what could be going on? How could this old drug be so good at what it's doing? And how could this drug be used to help bring down long COVID cases?

That's on this week's Coronacast - along with a clarification of NSW hospital data and antiviral prescriptions.

Or watch us on YouTube here

Introducing - Quick Smart Jun 11, 2023

Tegan has been playing away, making another show.

It's called Quick Smart, and because you're such a loyal Coronacast listener, we'll give you a preview here.

If you like it, please find the Quick Smart feed and subscribe!

This first ep is about something weird that's happened in the last 12 months or so - the fact that all your friends - and perhaps you as well - have ADHD now.

So where did this ADHD spike come from? Just how big is the gap between people seeking treatment and those able to give it? And if people are being overdiagnosed, or underdiagnosed, or diagnosed with the wrong thing... what are the risks?

Check it out here!

We're in a wave - are more drugs the answer? Jun 07, 2023

The public health measures we relied on in years past to control COVID have now largely gone.

Social distancing is no more and there aren't nearly as many masks around as there once was and we're grossly under-immunised.

So what about antivirals? Could making them more available to more people be a way to reduce the amount of severe disease and limit the waves of COVID?

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE7At1S7tho

Wait ... how many people have long COVID? May 31, 2023

Long COVID has nearly been around as long as COVID itself.

It wasn't long after the pandemic began before we started hearing about long haulers - people who were suffering from the virus long after testing negative.

But even today, we still don't know the precise definitions of what exactly long COVID is and how many people suffer from it.

But we are getting closer to a clearer picture. So why is it important to know?

How many shots should I have had by now? May 24, 2023

In 2021, Aussies were queueing round the block quite literally for COVID-19 vaccines one and two.

Is there a new flu surge? May 17, 2023

As respiratory disease goes, COVID got us good. But it's important we don't forget the old school ones like flu and RSV.

There's quite a bit of flu around at the moment too. It could even be described as a surge.

So what's going on? Why are we being attacked by COVID, flu and RSV all at once?

Also on today's show:

* Remember that time a stranger made Norman stick something up his nose in an abandoned dungeon?

* What's going on in China now that they've dropped COVID restrictions?

WHO's given up on COVID? May 10, 2023

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) announcing that COVID-19 is no longer a "global health emergency", you'd be forgiven for thinking the pandemic's over.

But alas, it isn't.

According to WHO, the "emergency" phase is over but COVID will remain a persistent threat for a lot longer, saying the disease is still killing someone every three minutes.

So how can COVID no longer be an emergency, but also remain so deadly?

Arcturus' rise: Another COVID (sub sub sub) variant! May 03, 2023

The Omicron variant has been spinning off all sorts of sub variants during its 17 month long reign.

The latest is XBB.1.16 - known also as Arcturus - and like its sibling sub variants doesn't seem to be all that different.

But while Arcturus is busy trying to become the most popular sub variant of the month, we are undergoing another wave of infections.

There are hundreds of people in hospitals around the country and it's continuing to affect how the health system operates.

Also on the show: Is COVID going to the dogs?

What would it take to guard against future pandemics? Mar 29, 2023

The coronavirus pandemic might not be a 'pandemic' for much longer

So, looking ahead, experts have come together to propose countermeasures for future epidemics and pandemics.

It's all about transparency and equity at a global scale.

References:

It is time for ambitious, transformational change to the epidemic countermeasures ecosystem

Animal origin theory suddenly has a lot more weight behind it Mar 21, 2023

A team has analysed data out of China, proving the presence of animals in the Wuhan market capable of hosting SARS-CoV-2.

Not again! A new wave is building, so what now? Mar 15, 2023

Another wave of COVID infections seems to be underway in parts of Australia, and NSW is leading the pack.

The variant soup is getting more complex by the day — but luckily the dominant mutations don't seem to be causing more severe disease.

Regardless, as more people get infected and re-infected, researchers are fast at work trying to determine what might protect people from long-term consequences.

References:

Almost 20,000 more deaths than expected last year – is it all down to COVID? Mar 08, 2023

In 2022, Australia saw an estimated 12% increase in the number of deaths compared to expert predictions.

More than half of those were due to COVID-19. And there are signs that even the deaths that couldn't be directly linked to COVID-19 are a result of the pandemic.

This pattern isn't just playing out in Australia, but around the globe. So what are the driving factors, and what can be done to address them?

References:

We're all getting boosters – why aren't little kids? Mar 01, 2023

Since ATAGI updated its booster advice there have been lots of questions about why kids aren't able to get another jab.

We discuss the reasoning behind the age limit, as well as some other vaccine-related questions from listeners.

Also, a few controversial COVID topics... from Ivermectin to the US Energy Department's theory on where the virus came from.

References:

Do antivirals increase your risk of rebound COVID? Feb 22, 2023

Antivirals are an important measure to prevent severe disease in vulnerable people with COVID-19.

But there have been concerns antivirals could lead to rebound infections — the resurgence of viral load following the completion of the medication. So what do the latest studies say?

Also, we speak to an expert informing the parliamentary inquiry into long COVID about how to best care for patients.

Guest:

Professor Tania Sorrell

University of Sydney

References:

Don't chuck out your mask — and when to get boosted Feb 15, 2023

An old debate has been reignited after a review declared the effects of masks is uncertain and in need of further investigation.

Meanwhile Sydney scientists have found a receptor that sticks to the coronavirus and pulls it away from lung cells, opening up potential treatment avenues.

But for now, vaccines remain the best protection against severe disease. So when should you get your next booster? We answer some common questions.

References:

BONUS: ATAGI updates its booster advice — it's not just about the fifth dose Feb 08, 2023

Australian adults will be able to get a fifth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within a fortnight.

People aged 18 and over who've not had a COVID vaccine or a positive case in the last six months will also be eligible for another shot.

How well does getting COVID protect you from COVID? Feb 08, 2023

The majority of Australians have received at least two doses of a COVID vaccine — and they've most likely caught the virus as well.

New research suggests this hybrid immunity offers good protection against severe disease, although the risk of long COVID persists with even mild bouts of infection.

There could soon be a simple model to predict how likely you are to recover well from COVID, or whether you'll go on to develop post-viral symptoms.

Guest:

Professor Jeremy Nicholson

Director, Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute

References:

Three years on, is COVID still an emergency? Or should we be more worried about the flu? Feb 01, 2023

It has been three years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health emergency.

The WHO isn't ready to downgrade the status of the pandemic, but the committee has agreed we're at a 'transition' point.

Meanwhile an outbreak of influenza in mink has highlighted the need for greater animal-human disease surveillance.

We're back! So what did we miss? Jan 25, 2023

Although we didn't begin this year with any lockdowns or border closures, the pandemic hasn't abated.

In fact we're off to a worse start than we had in 2022. Australia surpassed 1,000 deaths a whole week earlier than it did last year.

New subvariants are circulating fast. So what's changed? What's the best protection? And could sluggish surveillance be leaving us vulnerable?

What has COVID cost us in 2022? Dec 21, 2022

What a year 2022 has been for COVID.

We started with a new variant sweeping the world, heavy restrictions and border closures and we end with very few restrictions remaining.

We also sadly end with millions not fully vaccinated, and an aged care system that is still battling the virus.

So on the last Coronacast of the year, we go down the 2022 rabbit hole and try to make some predictions for 2023.

Are we going to be free of this wave by Christmas? Dec 14, 2022

The number of new weekly COVID cases seems to be slowing, but sadly doesn't seem to be slowing fast enough to be free of the current wave by Christmas.

Last year was a strong COVID Christmas, as the Omicron variant took over from Delta bringing thousands and thousands of new cases.

This time, the wave will be smaller - but still noticeable.

And we break down the big announcements from National Cabinet: PCR testing and the country's COVID strategy in 2023.

How do you know if a pandemic is from a lab leak? Dec 07, 2022

There's been a lot of discussion about the origins of COVID, especially on the question of did it come from a lab, did it form naturally - or maybe a mix of both.

Well a new book called Dark Winter has tackled this question and has come to the conclusion that we better get better at identifying outbreaks - because sometimes they're intentional.

While there's no direct evidence that COVID came from a lab leak, author and Professor Raina MacIntyre argues it is possible and some have been too quick to wave away the possibility.

Is this the end of China's COVID zero? Nov 30, 2022

Protests are breaking out across parts of China in response to the Chinese government zero COVID restrictions.

The number of COVID cases has soared in China in recent weeks, rising at a similar rate to what happened in March this year.

The outbreak was quickly brought under control, by the use of the Government's severe measures such as forced external quarantine and city wide lockdowns.

But with widespread discontent and protests, it may prove harder to keep this outbreak under control. So is this the end of China's COVID zero?

References:

Are the waves getting smaller? Nov 23, 2022

There's hope that the current Omicron sub variant wave will be in decline again just in time for Christmas - but like everything COVID, it's hard to know for sure.

Both case loads and hospitalisations due to COVID have continued to increase in the last week.

The latest advice from state health authorities say that overseas experience suggests the current wave might pass relatively quickly, though they warn local conditions may mean it's different here.

So what do we know about the latest wave? And is it better to have a quick one, or one that lasts for a longer time?

Ok, now it's off and running - how do we slow it down? Nov 16, 2022

Another week, another big jump in COVID case numbers and rising admissions to hospitals.

The next wave is well and truly underway, with the BA4 and BA5 sub variants rapidly being replaced by versions that are even more immune evasive.

However, when Omicron turned up last year there were a variety of public health measures in place to try and slow infection rates.

This time though, we've only got vaccination and an optional sense of public duty.

So can we slow down the next wave, or is it coming in hard and fast?

Does anyone give a rat about RATs anymore? Nov 09, 2022

Rapid-antigen tests promised so much: a quick, cheap and easy way to tell if you were COVID positive so you could make a decision to help protect yourself, family and community.

But in reality, it's far more complicated. The tests were initially hard to come by, expensive for some and the rollout was patchy.

And now, add to that the fact that the coronavirus has continued to evolve - making it hard to tell if RATs can even detect COVID.

So on this week's Coronacast, should we give a rat about RATs anymore? And why is it important that the tests do as they say?

Has the next wave already begun? Nov 02, 2022

New sub-variants of Coronavirus are increasingly appearing in Government statistics and clinical breakdowns of the virus' spread.

The BQ1 and XBB sub-variants of Omicron have surged overseas, and are also starting to pick up in Australia.

It's likely that they'll take over the BA5 subvariant that's been dominant for the past several months.

So what could these new variants bring and given they're likely to evade our immune systems, what could it mean for spread and severe disease?

What could the floods mean for disease outbreak? Oct 26, 2022

For those keeping count, 2022 hasn't been a great year for animal virus outbreaks into human populations.

A new study has suggested that the Omicron variant may have had a reservoir in mice.

Also, there are warnings that the East Coast floods may see a rise in people infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus, and parts of Uganda are locked down to prevent an Ebola outbreak from spreading into cities and across borders.

So what's going on and how can we make sense of it all?

Australia's COVID report card is in. How did we do? Oct 19, 2022

After all big events, it's important to look back and think about what worked and what didn't.

And one of the biggest events lately is COVID, and especially how Australia handled it.

A group of researchers and experts have done just that, analyzing everything from the vaccine rollout to virus control measures to looking at what could be improved for the next pandemic.

So what did we do well, and what could we have done better?

New Omicron booster is here! How well will it work? Oct 12, 2022

The first COVID booster that targets the Omicron variant has finally been introduced to Australia's vaccine rollout.

The vaccine from Moderna targets the BA.1 Omicron subvariant, but that's no longer the dominant strain.

Omicron has continued to evolve since the vaccine was updated, and the dominant strain is now BA5.

So how well will the new vaccine work with BA5? And if you've already had 4 doses, why can't you get this one as your 5th?

What could the end to mandatory isolation mean? Oct 05, 2022

The decision by National Cabinet to remove mandatory isolation for people testing positive to COVID-19 is seen by many as an "official" end to the pandemic.

The period had already been reduced from two weeks to one week to 5 days, but soon it'll be gone entirely.

It's one of the final public health controls that remained to try and slow the spread of the virus, and some experts say it'll lead to problems down the road.

So for how long should we treat COVID differently?

Putin isn't our only worry from Russia Sep 28, 2022

Russia has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, and here's another concern to add to the list.

Scientists are on the alert about the risk of another virus spilling over from animals to humans. This time it's Russian horseshoe bats and a coronavirus from the SARS family.

It's known as Khosta 2 and while there has been no known human transmission so far, unlike Khosta 1 scientists say there is the possibility that it could occur.

And it's not affected by vaccines for COVID-19.

That's on this week's Cororonacast.

Also on today's show:

* Tracking new COVID variants: we look at 2.75.2

COVID numbers just got a whole lot harder to interpret Sep 21, 2022

One of the mainstays over the past few years has been daily reporting of COVID cases, hospitalisations, ICUs and deaths.

How else has COVID been killing people? Taking another look at excess deaths. Sep 14, 2022

When COVID hit, there were a whole lot of predictions about how many people would die.

Not just of the virus itself, but the knock on effects from reduced care and other diseases.

One of the latest attempts at working out the number of excess deaths is recently published and has taken a wide view of the population looking for trends.

And while the group found that excess deaths from undiagnosed COVID is likely low in Australia, increased deaths from COVID-caused complications is beginning to show up.

Where’s my Omicron specific booster? And will it help? Sep 07, 2022

It may not be long before Omicron specific vaccines are available in Australia, like they are elsewhere in the world.

Last week the Therapeutic Goods Administration provisionally approved an Omicron variant specific vaccine, but we’re still waiting on ATAGI to recommend its use.

So with it likely to be available soon, is it worth waiting for if you’re due for your booster or should you just get what’s available now?

Also on today’s show:

* Snot and the inner parts of your nose - could this be the key to finally ending the pandemic?

Is it time to scrap COVID isolation? Aug 31, 2022

Back at the start of the pandemic, if you tested positive for COVID - or even if you were a contact - you were looking at two weeks of isolation.

These days, that's been downgraded to a week, and contacts are generally free to go about their normal life.

But while COVID is still undeniably a health risk, having masses of people undergoing mandatory isolation takes its own toll.

So should compulsory isolation be shortened or even scrapped altogether?

Also on today's show:

* Are vaccination requirements still useful?

* Moderna sues Pfizer/BioNTech

* Didn't I see Norman out and about without a mask on the other day?

The best news since January - but can it last? Aug 24, 2022

It seems that COVID cases in the latest wave have indeed peaked, and all things across the usual pandemic metrics are improving.

It's the best COVID caseload we've had since Omicron came into our lives late last year.

So has BA5 burnt itself out or is this just a small respite? And are we due for another variant?

Also on today's show:

* How is COVID associated with increased risks of neurological and psychiatric conditions?

* Is monkeypox getting away from us?

How much coronavirus is coming out of your mouth? Aug 17, 2022

Pretty much ever since the pandemic began, we've been told to socially distance by at least 1.5 meters if possible to reduce the chances of infection.

But as the science is gathered on how much viral load flows from an infected person, how relevant is that recommendation? Was it even correct in the first place?

Well a new - yet to be peer reviewed - study has attempted to explain just how much virus is in one's exhaled breath aerosols.

And what does this mean for how the virus is spread?

Can we wave bye bye to the B5 wave? Aug 10, 2022

Is it finally time to say a big see ya later to the latest B5 COVID wave?

The Omicron family has already brought us several waves - the first at the start of the year when it muscled out Delta and the most recent big one via B5.

But there are signs that it is finally slowing down. Cases are dropping and there are small, but positive, signs that deaths are also falling.

So while it may be the end of the worst of B5, what could be next?

Rebound? Reinfection? Release me from this pandemic prison! Aug 03, 2022

As more and more people become infected with COVID-19, more and more people are also going to be reinfected.

But there's another type of reinfection known as a rebound infection, which can happen in the days after you've recovered.

The US President Joe Biden tested positive again this week for COVID-19 only a few days after he was cleared following his treatment with antiviral medication Paxlovid.

So what could be going on? How common are rebound infections and could it extend to people who don't take the drugs also being reinfected?

Do we need a new health revolution? Aug 01, 2022

When the pandemic started we were so worried about surfaces. But it turned out that wasn't so much of a concern.

The big thing was the very air we breathe.

But as Governments largely scale back on mandates and restrictions, experts are urging more be done on things that can prevent spread of the virus

And the big target is better ventilation.

On today's special Coronacast, Tegan Taylor takes a look around to see how bad the air is in everyday life.

Why BA5 isn't like measles, but is still a big worry Jul 27, 2022

BA5 sure is making itself well known, and is responsible for soaring infection and reinfection rates right across the country.

So how does it compare in infectiousness to other diseases? Well working that out is a difficult question.

It's partly down to changing variables like vaccination and controls, but also changes to the virus itself.

So on this week's Coronacast, why it doesn't really matter if BA5 is as infectious as measles - it's still doing a lot of damage.

Also on today's show:

* Enough about BA5 - what about BA2.75? Bring on the 'Centaurus' talk!

* An update on pregnancy and COVID-19

* And BA5 in schools - will a booster help?

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The Doctor is back. What's Australia's COVID prognosis? Jul 20, 2022

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 what's the rest of winter looking like?

Also on today's show:

* I'm suddenly eligible for a fourth dose. Do I bother getting it?

* Can you get the 2nd booster shot 28 days after having COVID (in line with information that re-infection can occur after 28 days), or is it still best to wait the 3 months, and if so, why is it best to wait?

* I've had two AstraZeneca and one Moderna shots. What should I have as my fourth dose?

The latest great news for young kids and COVID! Jun 15, 2022

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 kids under 5 in the USA.

Also on today's show:

* Are there rapid tests available to test for influenza?

* I've noticed that cases seem to be falling. Is it just that it's being under reported? I haven't heard any mention of it in the media but it's the opposite of what I expected as we head into winter.

AND WE'LL BE TAKING A BREAK FOR THE NEXT MONTH BECAUSE NORMAN IS ON HOLIDAYS. SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE FEED AND WE'LL BE BACK SOON.

Have we lost our vaccine mojo? Jun 08, 2022

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 assumed second COVID infections that are actually just relapses?

Which subvariant will be the One True Omicron? Jun 01, 2022

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 and COVID is everywhere, could I have encountered it and fought it off, making me even more immune now?

* What's the latest on the scary, mysterious hepatitis that's been reported in kids?

How worried should we be about monkeypox? May 25, 2022

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 we be?

The BIG COVID challenge facing Australia’s next government May 18, 2022

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 positive on a RAT. We had a PCR test the same day and it came back negative. So we tested again via a RAT and it was positive again. Does this mean the PCR test wasn't done properly?

* I have been diagnosed with COVID twice this year. Is this the future, COVID every 4 or 5 months?

Yes, you can get long COVID if you're triple vaxxed May 11, 2022

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 surface transmission?

5000 deaths this year and counting May 04, 2022

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? Who should take it? When? And why?

The sub-variants just keep coming Apr 27, 2022

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, what is BA4, where did it come from and how much of a worry is it?

Also on today's show:

* What's going on with the hepatitis condition in kids? Is it being caused by COVID-19?

How long can any country stay COVID zero? Apr 13, 2022

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 in the USA?

* Omicron refresher: Do RATs work against it? What are the main symptoms? How long is the incubation?

* How much of the world has had COVID now?

Our first proper flu AND covid season looms Apr 06, 2022

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 to reporting on vaccine effectiveness?

When two variants become one Mar 30, 2022

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 combining?

Also on today's show:

* Antibody profile after Omicron

* What makes something a subvariant and not just a new variant?

* Lots of questions about fourth doses

Wasn't the peak meant to be in January? Mar 23, 2022

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 4th dose

BONUS: Introducing Australia, If You're Listening Mar 20, 2022

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, If You're Listening" where ever you get your podcasts.

Or find the links here on the ABC website: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/if-youre-listening/

What will winter bring as the sibling of Omicron rises? Mar 16, 2022

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 researchers have uncovered resistance mutations to Sotrovimab

How many people had COVID before me? Mar 11, 2022

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 more dominant, according to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard

* Coronacast will be dropping back to weekly. We'll be out every Wednesday so watch your feed!

What's COVID doing to your brain? Mar 09, 2022

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 than mine and she suggested I isolate in a different part of the home?

* The virus in my body is a direct descendant of the virus that infected people in the wet market in Wuhan. How many people do you think it has been through to get to me?

* If there is every chance we will all, eventually get Omicron, is there an argument to getting it sooner than later?

Rethinking the lab escape theory Mar 07, 2022

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 made the jump.

GUEST:Professor Eddie Holmes, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Australia is one again! So how are we tracking? Mar 04, 2022

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 antibodies. What is it? How does it differ from vaccination? And why might it be useful?

Are kids getting vaccinated too slowly? Feb 28, 2022

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?

How wars can supercharge pandemics Feb 25, 2022

Throughout history, war and disease have gone hand in hand.

As the Russian/Ukrainian war escalates, it's still too early to know what effect it'll have on the COVID-19 pandemic but it certainly won't help.

So what can we learn from previous conflicts and pandemics, like the 1918 flu pandemic or even the plague?

That's on today's Coronacast

Also on today's show:

* What can we learn from two Omicron superspreading events in Newcastle?

* Cases in WA continue to go up

* Quick(ish) Fire Friday returns!

Restrictions finally easing up. Are they gone for good? Feb 23, 2022

More and more states and territories are slowly removing restrictions, and letting people try to return to a sense of a normal life.

Victoria yesterday said that masks can come off in most indoor environments from midnight Friday and Queensland is scrapping density limits and stopping daily press conferences.

So is this finally the end of the pandemic, or more just a lull between variants?

Also on today's show:

* Vaccination while pregnant safe, another study finds

* Worried about long-COVID? Here are four possible risk factors that might trigger it.

I'm worried about how worried I am Feb 21, 2022

As we move to the next phases of the pandemic, there are many people who are yet to make the psychological jump and mental readjustment to a different life.

Many are only mildly anxious, but there are also groups of people who are still worried about leaving their house.

So what can you do if you have a friend or family member suffering from pandemic related anxiety or even depression?

GUEST:

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, a psychologist and mental health researcher at the University of Newcastle

Exponential growth gets there eventually Feb 18, 2022

It's taken several weeks, but the number of new COVID-19 cases in Western Australia is now increasing rapidly.

At the start of February, WA had a 7-day average of 19 cases a day. Now that average is nearly 100.

So from here, can we expect to see a very rapid increase in cases like we saw in the eastern states over Christmas/New Year?

Or could the delayed reopening and closed borders help flatten that curve?

Also on today's show:

* Victoria and NSW announce they're loosening restrictions even more

Four scenarios for the pandemic's next phase Feb 16, 2022

So, where's this pandemic actually heading? It's a good question and quite hard to answer as... well... no one can tell you the future.

But experts have never shied away from making some educated guesses, including SAGE, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in the UK.

They've published four scenarios ranging from as good as it can be given the circumstances to downright doom and gloom.

So on today's Coronacast, what does SAGE think we can expect from the pandemic over the next few years and which scenario is most likely to be right?

How do we sidestep the next pandemic? Feb 14, 2022

When COVID burst onto the scene in late 2019, it came as a shock to most of the world's population and we've all been dealing with it ever since.

But to many researchers, it was less of a surprise and more of an inevitability - and now they're urging governments to act now to stop the next one.

It comes down to the old medical saying: prevention is better than cure.

So what can be done to help prevent the next pandemic and how much will it cost?

It's OFFICIAL: you now need THREE doses Feb 11, 2022

For months now, experts have been saying we'll need three doses to be protected from coronavirus, especially the Omicron variant.

And now, it's official.

Yesterday, the rules changed and people over 16 will be required to have all three doses of a COVID vaccine to be considered "up to date".

So why make the change now when previously two vaccines were considered good enough? And might it mean for vaccine mandates down the track?

Also on today's show:

* Should me and my family just go out and get Omicron?

* Should I wait the full eight weeks to get my daughters second vaccination or should I do it at six?

* Does testing positive just after my booster reduce its effectiveness?

An unexpected COVID crisis Feb 09, 2022

Two years into the pandemic, we're still discovering new things about COVID almost daily.

The latest is what COVID can do to your heart, a year after you've been infected.

A huge study has shown really disturbing problems from heart attacks, to strokes, to blood clots on the lungs to heart failure.

So on today's Coronacast, who is at most risk? And what does this tell us about COVID as a disease?

Also on today's show:

* International tourists - what will they bring?

* The real story about aged care

* Who needs a fourth dose, when and why?

How will fancy new antivirals help fight COVID? Feb 07, 2022

When it comes to ways to fight COVID-19, vaccines have been the main tool we've used so far during the pandemic.

But new antivirals are being produced for use including in Australia which has recently provisionally approved two different drugs.

They promise to help stop at-risk people ending up in hospital and dying.

So what are the drugs, how do they work and will they usher in a new way of handling the pandemic?

GUEST:Professor Josh Davis, Infectious Diseases, Uni Newcastle, past president of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases and member of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce

Wishful thinking and the end of the pandemic Feb 04, 2022

As the Omicron wave continues to subside, there's the temptation to hope that now that it's over, the whole pandemic is done.

And while we can dream that it's true, hoping unfortunately won't help that become reality.

The general weariness is understandable for us everyday people, but what about for policy makers and their preparations for new variants or the next wave?

Also on today's show:

* Are we really at Omicron's peak?

* Can a person be infected simultaneously with two or more strains of coronavirus?

* Why aren't COVID case numbers exploding in WA?

* Will Novavax be offered as a booster?

* Can you be asymptomatic and get long COVID? Could this explain why I am so tired?

The brothers and sisters of Omicron Feb 02, 2022

Looking at the family tree of coronavirus is a bit like taking a trip down memory lane.

The whole crew is there including the famous ones like Alpha, Beta and Delta, and the ones that never really made it into the big time.

But what if we zoom in on Omicron? Lately, there's been a bit of noise made about a few Omicron sub variants. What are they? And how much should we worry?

Also on today's show:

* TGA releases a post-market review for rapid antigen tests. What can we learn from it?

References:

https://www.tga.gov.au/post-market-review-antigen-and-rapid-antigen-tests

The great big lull after Omicron Jan 28, 2022

As the scary peaks in all states and territories in Australia, except WA, seems to be behind us, there is now a new sense of calm.

Daily coronavirus cases seem to be falling for now, and there's renewed hope that the worst of this wave is behind us.

And according to some experts, it could well be the case both here and globally.

Due to so many people now either infected by Omicron or vaccinated, they say we may be settling into a new trough of equilibrium.

So is it the end of the pandemic? Or just a calm before the next storm?

Also on this week's show:

* Deaths are still high

* WA cases are increasing. What are their options?

* Vaccines help protect against long COVID

Is the death rate too high? Jan 21, 2022

The number of people dying from COVID hit a record high this week, as large case numbers continue in most states and territories.

It comes as no surprise then that NSW and Victoria announced that people can get their third dose at the three month mark, bringing it forward from the 31st January which was originally planned.

So why roll out boosters even earlier? Could the number of deaths be tied to people not being as protected as they could be?

Also on this week's show:

* Vaccine supply and logistics

* Novavax approved!

* Is the term "elective surgery" a bad way of phrasing it?

* Peaks? Coming soon?

* How reliable are rapid antigen tests?

* Kids vaccination, kids going back to school and keeping kids safe

Is Omicron the last variant? Jan 14, 2022

We're all no doubt very tired of the pandemic by now and could be forgiven for hoping now that Omicron has landed in Australia, once we get over the current outbreak it's all over.

But according to evolutionary virologist Eddie Holmes, sadly Omicron won't be the last and in fact the next variant probably won't evolve from Omicron.

So what can we do apart from get vaccinated and hope this terrible roller coaster ride will somehow end soon?

We're back! Now, when will the outbreak peak?! Jan 07, 2022

Well, that escalated quickly.

When Coronacast left you last year, there were nearly 4000 national daily cases. Yesterday, there were more than 72,000 and there's no sign it's slowing down.

Health systems in most states and territories are beginning to groan under significant pressure.

Add to it probably more than one or two hundred thousand cases a day going unreported, it's fair to say COVID in Australia is in a bit of a mess.

So on today's Coronacast - which will be coming out weekly for at least the next few weeks - when might the peak be here? And what can we expect in coming days and weeks?

See ya 2021. What does 2022 have in store? Dec 17, 2021

It's been a massive year for coronavirus and COVID-19.

There have been outbreaks, lockdowns and a pile of new variants.

But there have also been massive successes like the vast majority of Australians coming forward to be vaccinated.

But sadly, the pandemic seems like it's far from over.

So on today's last Coronacast of the year, we look forward to 2022 and offer some tips on how to stay safe this summer.

We'll be back around February 2022! Thanks so much for listening and writing this year.

Wowsers, 25,000 cases a day? Dec 16, 2021

As COVID numbers continue to rapidly increase in NSW - likely due to the Omicron variant - we're being warned that modelling is pointing to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January.

Yesterday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard talked about modelling by the University of NSW which said case numbers could reach heights not seen before in Australia.

And it comes as NSW continues to let its foot off the restrictions brake, redefining what a close contact is.

So is what is happening there likely to happen everywhere else in the country Omicron has found its way into?

Also on today's show:

* A very special guest!

Is NSW going to the dogs? (And does it matter?) Dec 15, 2021

There was a large jump in COVID cases in NSW yesterday, and while we're largely moving on from day to day case numbers - this one is worth talking about.

Why? Well, there's a new variant in town and health authorities are already suggesting that we can expect far more from Omicron in coming weeks.

The same goes for other states and territories - like Victoria which still has higher daily figures than NSW, but hasn't yet seen a big jump.

So on today's Coronacast what should we make of the rising caseload and does it matter?

Also on today's show:

* A deeper look at what's going on in South Africa

* An announcement on Coronacast for 2022!

All our (travel) bubbles are bursting. What comes next? Dec 14, 2021

After nearly two years of constant internal border changes, by the end of this week large parts of Australia will once again be open for domestic travel.

South Australia opened a few weeks ago, Queensland opened yesterday and Tasmania is due to open tomorrow.

Western Australia has also finally given a date and will reopen on the 5th of February next year.

So with state and territory bubbles bursting all over the place, what might come next for people who live there?

Also on today's show:

* How is decoupling going?

* Fourth dose anyone?

* Pregnancy and booster shots

Why is the Moderna booster a half shot? Dec 13, 2021

Australia now has two different booster options to choose from when the inevitable time comes for the third dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Moderna was approved by the country's vaccine expert group ATAGI over the weekend.

We'll also be able to get the booster a month earlier, with the Government announcing a shorter period due to the threat of waning immunity and new variants.

So if Moderna is a choice, should you take it over Pfizer? Does it even matter? And why is the Moderna booster only a half shot?

Also on today's show:

* A preprint study has found that Astra seems to wane faster than other vaccines, leaving no protective effect against symptomatic disease from Omicron 15 weeks after the second dose. What could this mean for the country's booster campaign?

All roads lead to third doses Dec 10, 2021

As the data from initial studies into how Omicron evades our immunity continue to flow in, it's becoming more and more likely that a third dose - or booster - is going to be essential.

Several more studies have been released, all showing large falls in immunity to the Omicron variant.

One thing that the studies imply though is that there are much higher antibody levels in people who have either been infected, or received a third dose.

So how much will third doses be needed to combat Omicron?

Also on today's show:

Quick Fire Friday! (booster edition)

Omicron evades vaccines, but not all is lost Dec 09, 2021

One of the first studies into Omicron and immunity has reported back and it's not super great news: there's significant evasion of antibodies produced by the Pfizer vaccine.

But not all is lost. The study says that the Omicron variant uses the same way of getting into our cells, meaning our existing tools and techniques should be relatively easy to change so they work better.

The study is not yet published, and is a very small sample size so it's worth keeping in mind that this is still a very new area of science and is subject to change.

Nonetheless, as today's Coronacast explains, it does give us a glimpse of what is likely to come.

Also on today's show:

* Could a mozzie vaccinate someone by biting a vaxed person and then an unvaxed person?

* Your booster experiences

Do vaccinated people get long COVID? Dec 08, 2021

Beyond the nasty and sometimes life-threatening symptoms that COVID can bring, there's another risk: long COVID.

It's the collection of prolonged symptoms including brain fog, smell loss and fatigue.

And while we know that being vaccinated drastically reduces your risk of a bad bout of COVID itself, a lingering question has been whether it also protects you from long COVID.

Well, according to a yet to be peer reviewed study, the answer is yes it does.

Also on today's show:

* Is there any research work being done to modify the virus to develop a relatively benign but transmissible COVID variant which could be released to "crowd out" the current dangerous variants?

* Is there a chance that Omicron is different enough that instead of replacing Delta, you get both if not together then one after another?

* And we're after your stories about getting third-doses. Was it easy? Or hard?

When (and how) will we know if Omicron is taking over? Dec 07, 2021

Over the next several months, the fight between Delta and Omicron is going to be scientifically fascinating.

In the red corner is the current world champion Delta, which easily beat out every other variant of concern to date.

In the blue corner is the challenger Omicron, whose continued existence probably relies on its ability to beat out the champion.

But how will we know who's winning and when will we get a better sense of it all?

Also on today's show:

* What makes a virus go viral?

* Who decides which variants you make vaccines for?

* What happens if Omicron turns up in a place with no Delta (like Queensland or Tasmania, for example)?

Omicron's latest clues are a bit concerning Dec 06, 2021

It's been a bit more than a week since we learned of Omicron, the newest coronavirus variant of concern.

And while we're still a while from knowing solid answers, the world's scientists have done an amazing job over the last 7 days unraveling parts of Omicron's mysteries.

The three big questions are will our vaccines continue to work? For people who do get the virus, will it be severe and will it beat Delta to become the coronavirus champion of the world?

So on today's Coronacast, what we know from the latest science about answering those big questions.

Also on today's show

* Does it escape previous immunity and/or our vaccines?

* Is it better at spreading than Delta?

* Does it matter? Does it make you sicker than previous variants?

* Where's Dr Norman Swan's Omicronometer of Panic heading?

Pfizer, Moderna, au naturale? What works best! Dec 03, 2021

Just like we're likely going to be stuck with COVID for the rest of our lives, we're probably also going to be stuck wondering which is the most effective vaccine to protect against it.

Well lucky we've got science to help sort it out, with a new study putting the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines head-to-head across hundreds of thousands of people.

And other scientists have been busy working out how much protection you have against reinfection, if you are infected in the first place.

Also on today's show:

* Quick Fire Friday

* Tegan interrupts Quick Fire Friday with her own - excellent - Quick Fire Question.

Can Omicron evade our vaccines? Dec 02, 2021

As the days tick by since Omicron was discovered, it's slowly spreading around the world.

One example is reports of a couple of Israeli doctors who likely picked up Omicron in the United Kingdom, before flying back home.

Their symptoms are said to be mild at the moment, but more worryingly, both of the doctors were fully vaccinated with Pfizer - that's all three doses.

So what do we know about how Omicron works with our current vaccines?

Also on today's show:

* If we have been vaccinated to recognise the spike protein, why are variants so concerning? Is it the spike that changes?

Do we really know yet if Omicron is "milder"? Dec 01, 2021

Nearly two years into the global coronavirus pandemic, it's probably safe to say that we're all pretty much ready for it to be done.

So no wonder we're hoping that very early reports from South Africa are possibly, just maybe, indicating that the Omicron variant is "milder" than variants before.

But how much evidence is there for that yet? Is it true, or just wishful thinking?

Also on today's show:

* Is it possible that the emergence of this variant is actually an encouraging development for the COVID pandemic?

* No big changes yet for Australia's international borders

* The Omicron variant mutation that might end up helping us (a bit)

* In previous episodes you have mentioned that variants can "out compete" other variants. What exactly does this mean and what is the mechanism behind it?

* An update to the Dr Norman Swan Omicronometer of Panic

The three theories of Omicron's origin Nov 30, 2021

As the world desperately awaits news from scientists on anything Omicron, some experts have started thinking about where the variant might have come from.

One theory is that it's from someone severely immunocompromised, where the virus has had millions of opportunities to evolve against a poor immune response.

But it's far from the only theory.

So on today's Coronacast, a few other possibilities of where - and when - Omicron might have popped into existence.

Also on today's show:

* The evolutionary lineage of Omicron

* How should Australia be preparing?

* The Dr Norman Swan Omicronometer of Panic is born

Hello Omicron. Goodbye Delta? Nov 29, 2021

It's the news we didn't want: There's a new variant of concern in town and it's got all sorts of mutations just where you don't want them.

It's also got a new fancy name: Omicron, and it's reportedly outpacing Delta in countries in southern Africa.

But is it really? Is it more infectious? Is it more virulent? Is it vaccine resistant, and if so by how much? How much do we really know at the moment? Should I panic?

Also on today's show:

* What if the Omicron variant is the sort epidemiologists expected to see earlier in the pandemic: highly transmissible and less virulent?

How does COVID rank against other pandemics? Nov 26, 2021

As pandemics go, the coronavirus one is pretty big. It rapidly spread around the world, and is still causing problems.

But how does it compare to past pandemics? Are we actually living in a fortunate time in human history?

If we could magically replace COVID with a bug from the past, would it be a good or bad idea? Would you prefer the plague? Syphilis? Perhaps a flu pandemic might tickle your fancy.

Well to help you decide, on today's Coronacast, we go through the pandemics in history.

Also on today's show:

* Rapid antigen tests work well against Delta

* Quick Fire Friday!

At 90%, what's the point of mandating vaccination? Nov 25, 2021

All around the country at the moment are family discussions and debates about what to do about that one relative or friend who still doesn't want to get vaccinated.

The numbers of double vaccinated people continue to rise as people realise it's in their benefit to get the jab.

But there will always be holdouts, no matter what policies are put in place.

So how much does it matter if someone at the Christmas party is unvaccinated when nearly 90 percent of us 12 or older are double dosed?

Also on today's show:

* How careful should my vaccinated pregnant daughter be about where she goes and who she sees?

* What's the latest science on viral loads?

Will vaccination cause new variants? Nov 24, 2021

When the slew of variants popped into existence last year, scientists began worrying what it could mean for vaccine resistant variants down the line.

So far, the Delta variant has remained top dog. While it is much more infectious than the original coronavirus, thankfully it doesn't evade our vaccines by much.

But what about down the line? As more and more of the world is vaccinated, will the virus find a way to evolve to get around vaccines?

That’s on today’s Coronacast.

Also on today’s show:

* Lockdowns return to Europe

* How is Japan doing such a good job?

* What side effects can I expect from my Pfizer booster shot if I had AstraZeneca for my first and second shot?

COVID isn't the only thing coming this summer Nov 23, 2021

As we start to reopen to the world, it's inevitable that we'll start to see more cases of COVID-19 travel over our international and domestic borders.

But it's far from the only bug that will make the journey while travelling inside a human.

Influenza is one viruses we've been largely protected from over the last 18 months, after international border closures put a halt to incoming flights.

So on today's Coronacast, what do we have to keep in mind when reopening and can we protect ourselves and our kids against virus we haven't seen in quite a while.

Also on today's show:

* Will a third dose give me better protection against variants?

* Is there any evidence that taking paracetamol or ibuprofen after vaccination would reduce the body's immune response?

Why it's not worth waiting for Novavax Nov 22, 2021

It's become a common claim among people who are still COVID-19 vaccine hesitant, that they say they're "waiting for Novavax".

While there are currently three safe and effective vaccines available in Australia, Novavax is still not approved for use.

Australia ordered Novavax a year ago, but as yet there's still no sign of it and the TGA says its application for approval is still under evaluation.

So on today's Coronacast, if someone says they're waiting for Novavax, here's what you might want to reply with.

Also on today's show:

* Is it best to have Astra as my third shot?

* We want to hear from you! Please fill in our listener survey and tell us what you think of the show.

Why is Indigenous vaccination so patchy? Nov 19, 2021

The head of the umbrella organisation for Australia's Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations says she's nervous about the country's reopening over the next month.

CEO of NACCHO Pat Turner says while some Indigenous communities are 100% fully vaccinated, others are far from done.

She says part of the problem is state and territory governments wanting to leave it to the Commonwealth, and also certain religious groups bringing in misinformation and myths from the United States.

On today's Coronacast, the patchy response to outbreaks in Indigenous communities and what else needs to be done before state borders reopen.

GUEST:Pat Turner. CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

Don't be scared of bird flu headlines... yet Nov 18, 2021

For obvious reasons, pandemics are pretty hot news right now.

And it seems every few weeks, we see headlines about a possible new outbreak of potentially pandemic proportions.

Thankfully, we haven't seen any new disease outbreaks yet, but it doesn't mean it won't happen sometime in the future.

So what should we make of recent stories revealing a jump in avian influenza cases in 2021, and how likely is it that we'll be facing down a new pandemic anytime soon?

Also on today's show:

* A bit of a deeper dive into a recent article/story in the British Medical Journal, alleging issues with a trial site and its phase three trials of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The NT's worst local COVID-19 day ever Nov 17, 2021

When the NT's Chief Minister Michael Gunner held the COVID-19 press conference yesterday, he revealed news that many have been dreading.

A significant cluster of COVID has been detected, and all the people who were announced yesterday to have contracted the disease are Indigenous Australians.

It's the worst day ever for local cases in the NT since the pandemic began.

That's on today's Coronacast.

Also on today's show:

* Where's our vaccination compensation scheme?

* Very good news on boosters/third dose

* If I've had two doses of Astra and we know that its efficacy wanes quite quickly, where does that leave me after a dose of Pfizer for my third dose? Have I caught up with all the people who had two doses of Pfizer or will I forever have less protection?

One week until SA throws open the doors Nov 16, 2021

Nerves are running high in South Australia, as the state is now only one week away from opening the doors and inevitably letting COVID in.

South Australia is leading the way for zero-COVID states, and will be the first to open its doors to people travelling from Victoria, NSW and ACT.

It has a vaccination rate that is slowly increasing and may just get to 80 per cent fully vaccinated 16+ by next week.

But on today's Coronacast, many are worried about what the future may hold.

Also on today's show:

* Good news for antibodies in breast milk

* Just because you think you had COVID, doesn't mean you did

Europe's first winter with Delta is already looking grim Nov 15, 2021

Australians know full well that the Delta variant loves winter.

As the weather warms up here things are looking up, but overseas it's getting colder and case numbers in Europe are rising.

Hopefully the heavy impact of winter and Delta won't be felt, thanks to high levels of vaccination in many western European countries.

But on today's Coronacast, it hasn't stopped the reimposition of some public health control measures in Denmark.

Also on today's show:

* Since the pandemic started there's been a massive ramping up of technology development relating to vaccines. If they can develop a vaccine for a new pathogen so quickly, what's next?

Shouldn't Victoria's numbers be falling by now? Nov 12, 2021

When it was clear that the daily new COVID cases in Victoria had peaked, there was hope and speculation that the numbers would drop off quickly like what happened in NSW.

But sadly, we're still getting about more than a thousand new cases a day and it's starting to level off at that figure.

NSW has levelled off too lately, but at a much lower level of only a couple of hundred a day.

So what could be going on and why aren't Victoria's numbers falling faster? And does it matter?

Also on today's show:

* Could anti-virals cause unvaccinated people to double down on not being vaccinated?

* If you are due for a booster in the middle of the summer, might it be much better to wait until April/May and have the next shot when it starts to get colder?

* Does Norman hate South Australia?

How do I talk to people who don't want to be vaccinated? Nov 11, 2021

As vaccination rates increase and restrictions ease, plenty of us are starting to make plans for the Christmas and New Year breaks.

But in most of Australia, restrictions aren't easing for everyone. For many people who aren't vaccinated, restrictions are staying or even getting harsher.

So is this fair? Is it an effective way of getting the vaccination rate up? And how do you navigate tricky conversations with loved ones who don't feel the same way as you about the vax?

GUEST:Professor Julie Leask, a social scientist and professor in the Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney.

Let's dust off the crystal ball! Nov 10, 2021

With the news that NSW has hit 90 percent double vaccination in 16+, with other parts of the country to follow soon, you could be forgiven for thinking that the pandemic is finally over.

But like it or not, we're still living through a pandemic and it's likely in the coming months there'll continue to be outbreaks and waves of COVID-19.

It's not all bad news though. New drugs are likely to come online soon giving doctors even more tools to treat infections and prevent deaths.

So what else could be in store for us in 2022? On today's Coronacast, we pull out the crystal ball for some blatant speculation.

Keeping schools open through COVID outbreaks Nov 09, 2021

When the Doherty model was released a few months ago, it set Australia on a path to reopening at various stages of vaccination.

Now that the country has hit 80 per cent double dose for 16+, experts from Doherty, Burnet and other organisations have released new models on what we can expect a little further down the line.

One of the big ones is how schools can remain open - even when positive cases are detected - so long as students are tested regularly via rapid antigen testing.

And the new Doherty modelling has possible ways forward for international arrivals, and vulnerable remote Indigenous communities.

Also on today's show:

* Why is a booster necessary? After having been double vaccinated, even if the antibody level has waned, shouldn't the memory cells of the immune system kick into action?

A lot of little kids are getting COVID. Why? Nov 08, 2021

The largest age group of active COVID cases in Victoria at the moment are kids, under 9 years old.

While hard to compare directly, it's a similar story in NSW.

Kids are currently unable to be vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to infection as more COVID circulates through the community - though thankfully, disease is often very mild in children.

But on today's Coronacast, overseas experiences tell us that as more and more kids get COVID, we'll see more rare, but serious events popup.

Also on today's show:

* Are any of the rapid antigen tests approved/suitable for young children?

* Do we have another COVID treatment with that new Pfizer anti-viral drug?

How many people have really died from COVID? Nov 05, 2021

The world passed a grim milestone a few days ago: 5 million deaths from COVID-19 and counting.

But the reality is, that the actual deaths from the pandemic are much, much higher.

Estimating how high is hard, but researchers can use data around excess deaths - ie, an increase beyond the normal number of people who die on average year to year - as a guide.

So on today's Coronacast, why reported COVID deaths are probably grossly underestimated.

Also on today's show:

* Australia's vaccination rate starts to slow

* Who are we missing in relation to vaccination?

Let's talk about kids and vaccine side effects Nov 04, 2021

A program to vaccinate children in the United States has come closer to reality, after the CDC endorseds the use of COVID-19 shots in kids from 5 to 11.

Australian health authorities and regulators have yet to decide if it should happen here, but it is expected to happen in the next couple of months.

There has been some debate about whether kids should be vaccinated, with some questioning the very small risks versus the rewards.

So on today's Coronacast, what do we know about health problems in children from the vaccine compared to getting COVID-19 itself?

Also on today's show:

* More on rapid antigen tests

* A new COVID treatment?

Is NSW going to run out of people to vaccinate? Nov 03, 2021

The rules for fully vaccinated people in NSW are changing for the better next week, with a bunch of restrictions being lifted early thanks to high vaccination rates.

But the unvaccinated will have to wait with restrictions longer, as the state aims for even higher levels of vaccination across the population.

NSW, Victoria and the ACT are showing that it's possible to get to 95 per cent 12+ vaccination, which is resulting in case numbers falling.

So on today's Coronacast, at the rate we're going, when might we run out of arms to stick needles into?

Also on today's show:

* More on finding which rapid-antigen test is best

* If we vaccinated everyone in the world, would SARS-CoV-2 die off?

Why so long between scary variants? Nov 02, 2021

It was in early May when the Delta variant was officially listed as a variant of concern.

Delta turned out to be far more contagious than previous variants, and challenged Australia's public health response.

But since then, there haven't been any new variants of concern listed by the World Health Organisation, though there have been a couple of new variants of interest.

So why not? And what do we know about the AY4.2 variant that's causing some concern in the UK?

Also on today's show:

* Should I go overseas on holiday?

* My friends believe that the only benefit of being vaccinated to prevent oneself from severe disease. Is this true?

Finally we can test ourselves at home! Nov 01, 2021

From today, you can buy rapid antigen tests from the shop and use them on yourself to see if you've got COVID-19 or not.

Previously, the home, general-public use of antigen tests wasn't available for purchase by the general public.

So with a bunch of them on the market for the first time, what should you keep in mind and how do they differ from the usual PCR test we're so used to?

That's on today's Coronacast.

GUEST:

Dr Ian Norton, Managing Director, Respond Global

Boy do you have booster questions! Let's answer some Oct 29, 2021

Australians over 18 years of age who've waited six months from their second COVID vaccine will be given the chance to grab a booster shot if they want one.

While the focus will be on aged care and healthcare workers to start, yesterday, the expert panel on vaccinations approved the use of Pfizer booster doses.

And - at the moment - it's being sold as a boost, not a requirement to be considered "fully vaccinated"

So on today's Coronacast, how did ATAGI come to its recommendation and what can we expect in the months ahead?

Also on today's show:

* Only Pfizer is approved at the moment, but I want Moderna. Should I wait?

* What about mixing vaccines?

* Is Norman back at the gym?

Should a 3rd dose be required to be FULLY vaccinated? Oct 28, 2021

Australia's expert vaccination panel may soon tick off on a major expansion to the country's coronavirus vaccination program, paving the way for third doses to be administered.

Yesterday, the medicines regulator the TGA approved Pfizer for use as a third dose - sometimes referred to as a booster - for Australians aged 18 or over after six months after their second dose.

But despite the third dose boosting immunity, the Federal Government says they won't require it to be considered fully vaccinated.

Also on today's show:

* How does the TGA and ATAGI work in approving and recommending vaccines?

* Why only 18 years or over?

* Can I go get it a bit early?

* What about side effects?

Will vaccines stop me getting long COVID? Oct 27, 2021

One of the big unknowns with coronavirus is why some people are left with symptoms from the illness long after they test negative.

It's known as long COVID, and studies overseas suggest it affects more than half of people who get COVID to varying degrees of severity.

So now we're nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic, have we learnt more about long-COVID and what type of symptoms seem to be most common?

And because Australia has been fortunate enough to get to high levels of vaccination before massive outbreaks, are we likely to avoid the worst of it?

Also on today's show:

* Is Norman at odds with Australia's chief medical officer on vaccines waning?

* Some of my friends in WA are hesitant to get the vaccine and anti-mandate. What do I do?

How do I protect the vulnerable people I love? Oct 26, 2021

As more states open their borders in coming months, more COVID than ever will be circulating through the community.

Vaccines will help protect many of us, but for vulnerable people - like the elderly or immunocompromised - additional protections may be needed.

So if you have someone close that is more vulnerable to severe disease from a COVID-19 infection, what are some of the things you can do to help reduce the risk?

Also on today's show:

* 2nd generation vaccines vs natural immunity

* Will my pets need to be vaccinated too?

* Are there/will there be any plant based COVID vaccines?

* A study on fertility and the AstraZeneca vaccine (no problems found)

How will we know if we're reopening too fast? Oct 25, 2021

As more and more of the country is vaccinated, state and territory governments are starting to outline which restrictions we will lose when we reach very high levels of coverage.

Over the weekend, Victoria revealed that when it reaches 90 per cent double dose in a month there will be no density caps, and masks will only be mandatory at certain high-risk settings.

But how do we know when is the right time to lift restrictions and what can we learn from countries that have been this way before?

Also on today's show:

* Surgical masks give me "mascne" so I was going to invest in some 100 per cent silk reusable masks that are less likely to cause breakouts. They have a cotton interior but do you think they'd be effective enough against Delta?

* When a zero-COVID state opens up with hopefully high vaccination rates, will it be more vulnerable because there is no natural immunity in the community from infections?

Norman's moving the goal posts again everyone Oct 22, 2021

There's been all sorts of vaccination targets bandied about over the last year: 70 per cent, 80 per cent, 16+ eligibility, 12+ eligibility. It never seems to end.

But what if - and this might not make you happy because it seems almost impossible at the moment - the real target should be 95 per cent?

It's been done overseas: in Portugal and Iceland. So what would it take to do it here and what benefits do you get?

Also on today's show:

* Vaccine mandates are coming

* When will we have a vaccine approved for children under 12yrs?

* Where's Novavax?

* Where's Ollie? Wally? What?

Reopening with thousands of cases a day Oct 21, 2021

Greater Melbourne will finally come out of lockdown a minute before the strike of midnight tonight, which will be a huge relief to millions of people.

But the city comes out of lockdown with high daily caseloads - with the rolling five day average being around 1850.

When NSW came out of lockdown, its daily caseload was much lower - and has remained low and is showing no signs of increasing again.

So can we expect cases to fall in Melbourne? Rise? Level off? And does reopening with a large caseload in a highly vaccinated population even matter?

Also on today's show:

* Australia hits 70 per cent double-dosed

* Norman wants to see some quokkas

* What is the difference going to be for Victoria opening up with so many more cases than NSW?

* Can you get COVID-19 three times?

A third dose? When will it end! Oct 20, 2021

When the various states and territories report their daily vaccination rates as a mix of single and double doses, should they perhaps also be adding in third doses?

The COVID-19 vaccines in Australia are currently limited to two doses, but so far only immunocompromised people have been approved to get a third shot.

So should that be extended to older people and perhaps healthcare workers who got their vaccine in March or April?

On today's Coronacast, all your questions about the third dose including waning protection from Astra and Pfizer, timing and when to count it all from.

Also: thank you to all our listeners - especially those who've listened to all 400 episodes of Coronacast. You are champions!

Queensland sets the date to end COVID-zero Oct 19, 2021

Until now, a lot of the worry about COVID-19 in Australia has been about how zero-COVID states will rejoin NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

Well yesterday, Queensland put its plan forward saying that December 17, 2021 is the date its borders will be broadly reopened once again to other states, including hotspots.

So with vaccination rates in Queensland lagging, will this be the push some need to go and get the jab?

And what might it mean for other zero-COVID states?

Also on today's show:

* Third doses and Norman's mea culpa

* Southern Tasmania comes out of lockdown

* Your ideas to boost vaccination rates

The end of Victoria's lockdown era is finally here Oct 18, 2021

Victoria's lockdown will end this Thursday night, when the state expects to reach its first vaccine goal of 70 per cent double vaccinated.

Reasons to leave the home and the curfew will be lifted, which will be a huge relief to the people of Melbourne which have suffered through many long lockdowns.

But it's not as if the pandemic will end this week: many working in the hospital system are in for a rough time as the state opens up.

Also on today's show

* Mixing and matching boosters

* NSW hits 80 per cent. What comes next?

* The new drug Ronapreve. What is it?

What's coming after Delta? Oct 15, 2021

The arrival of the Delta variant really was a massive curveball that few experts saw coming.

It ripped through populations overseas and quickly punched holes in Fortress Australia.

It especially challenged our public health response with its incredible infectiousness and has taken hold in NSW, Victoria and ACT.

But how did Delta come into existence in the first place? And as more and more of us are vaccinated, what might come next as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve?

On today's Coronacast, a very special guest explains all.

GUEST:

* University of Sydney evolutionary biologist Professor Eddie Holmes

What's COVID done to the world's mental health? Oct 14, 2021

It's sometimes easy to forget that the COVID-19 pandemic affects more than just physical health. It also taken a massive toll on mental health.

And according to some new research, the two pandemic factors that lead to the worst mental health outcomes are rising case numbers and lockdowns.

Globally, the most affected groups are young people and women, and poorer countries in particular have seen higher mental health burdens.

Also on today's show:

* Why do some people get sicker from COVID than others?

* You seem confident we will get booster shots but I heard Dr Paul Kelly sat last week that there is evidence to suggest not - that the vaccine may even last a lifetime? Did I hear incorrectly?

* I live in a rural community and regularly drive past the sewerage works. The smell is often very noticeable. Is there a risk of virus carrying aerosol droplets leading to catching COVID?

What do zero-COVID states have ahead of them? Oct 13, 2021

A lot of the discussion about COVID lately has been on the big outbreaks in NSW, Victoria and the ACT, and less about states that don't have current outbreaks.

But as states like WA, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory start to plan their border reopenings, it also means COVID will eventually find its way in.

So what can the smaller and still COVID free states expect in coming months? Will cases skyrocket in a highly vaccinated population? And will people there have to get used to restrictions that currently don't apply?

Also on today's show:

* What does full vaccination mean for getting (or not getting) long COVID?

* We keep hearing the risk for under 12s is very low. Could you please clarify the best understanding of the hospitalisation, death, and long COVID risk for children under 12s?

Are we all just going to get COVID eventually? Oct 12, 2021

While COVID-19 is currently in two of Australia's states and the ACT, the reality is eventually it will get everywhere.

And eventually, the theory goes, COVID-19 will infect everyone.

Vaccination will help stop the vast majority of people getting severe symptoms which may put them in hospital, but there'll always be people who can't or won't be immunised.

So does getting COVID-19 after being vaccinated help with longer term immunity? And therefore if you're fully vaccinated, is it worth trying to get infected on purpose?

Also on today's show:

* How many people don't get their second dose?

* What might happen now in NSW?

OMG lockdown's lifting and I'm just not ready Oct 11, 2021

Many restrictions are being lifted in NSW today, after the state last week hit the 70 percent double vaccination target.

For many, it's a time to reconnect with loved ones and start to live life once again - this time in a more COVID-normal way.

But for others, the reopening is both exciting and a bit nerve wracking - as people take time to re-adjust.

Also on today's show:

* I'm worried about my kids going back to school

* What's going on with Moderna and myocarditis/pericarditis in young men?

NSW's bigger than expected step out of lockdown Oct 08, 2021

NSW will take its first step out of lockdown on Monday, and it'll be slightly bigger than expected.

The state's new Premier has made some small changes in relation to what fully vaccinated people will be able to do in just a few days.

So what can we expect to case numbers, vaccination rates, hospitalisation and ICU admissions?

And what about the rest of the country - like Victoria and ACT - which will be taking the same steps as NSW in coming weeks and months?

On today's Coronacast, a very special guest to help talks us through all the data.

Life as a vaccinated close contact... Oct 07, 2021

As case numbers continue to decline in NSW and the date for opening up gets closer, the state has started to provide details on how isolation requirements for close contacts might work for the vaccinated.

For vaccinated people, isolation after close contact will be halved if you're vaccinated - though movement restrictions may still apply.

It's just one of many changes coming for people in NSW and Victoria - and likely other states in coming months - as more risk tolerant ,COVID-normal policies are implemented.

So on today's Coroancast, what could it look like and how have other parts of the world handled it?

Also on today's show:

* Why are you dissing Tamiflu?

* Tegan's etymology club gains more members. It's got four people now!

Where is Victoria's peak? Oct 06, 2021

Victoria posted a new national record for new COVID cases day yesterday, with 1763 cases.

There have been a number of worrying big days recently, and there are few signs that the outbreak is slowing down in any meaningful way.

So what could be going on, especially considering vaccination levels in Victoria are now higher than they were in NSW when that state hit its peak several weeks ago.

That's on today's Coronacast.

Also on today's show:

* Kids and schools and ventilation

* I know this could change any second, but how have we managed to dodge so many bullets in Queensland?

* Can you tell me what the difference is between a 12 year old and a 10 year old getting vaccinated?

* Tegan starts a drug name etymology club. Who wants in?!

The vaccine is working! Here's how we can tell Oct 05, 2021

NSW is only days away from hitting the 70 per cent double dose vaccination figure, which will see the city begin its reopening from early next week.

And while Victoria is a few weeks behind, hospitalisation and ICU data there are showing dramatic drop offs in the percentages who are admitted.

It's yet another success story for COVID-19 vaccines, and hopefully is a sign of even better things to come.

But on today's Coronacast, if vaccines are so successful why are we hearing about more people in hospital for COVID treatment who have had a shot?

Also on today's show:

* All you questions on COVID-19 treatments answered: we talk molnupiravir and sotrovimab

Faster to lockdown - so why is the curve the same? Oct 01, 2021

'Go hard, go early' was the playbook when there was a Delta outbreak in Victoria in early August.

But nearly two months later the state is on the same curve as NSW was.

So why is Victoria tracking the same way NSW did when it responded more quickly? And does it mean we can expect the curve to bend when vaccination rates rise?

Also on today's show:

* If I successfully fend of an infection, does that help my immune system?

* What's the ideal gap for AstraZeneca vaccination?

* Quick Fire Friday returns with: What Would Norman Do?

How are Australia's outbreaks tracking? Sep 30, 2021

The outbreaks in NSW and Victoria are now large enough that it's impossible to follow what's happening with the detail that we once used to be able to.

But one thing that we should keep an eye on is hospitalisation and deaths coming from the outbreaks.

In NSW, it seems as though hospitalisations are falling - as more people come forward for vaccinations. In Victoria, the numbers are still rising.

So on today's Coronacast, how are Australia's outbreaks tracking? And what might we expect in coming weeks?

Also on today's show:

* Hello South Australia

* Clarifications about Monday's episode on Pfizer transmission data

What does DIY COVID testing mean for the months ahead? Sep 29, 2021

The medicines regulator in Australia has paved the way for home-testing COVID-19 kits to be made available from November 1st.

Currently, the most common way people are tested for COVID is via a PCR test, which requires at least a day's wait, a lab and fancy equipment.

But soon, people will be able to do a rapid antigen test at home and get a result in 15 minutes.

So on today's Coronacast, what is a rapid antigen test? And why might it be more useful as we start to reopen?

Also on today's show:

* Whatever happened to fully vaccinated meaning 2 doses + 2 weeks?

* Norman, when do you think you will feel comfortable boarding an airplane?

What can the world tell us about reopening? Sep 28, 2021

With nearly 52 per cent of Australians over 16 years now fully vaccinated, there is more and more talk about opening up once it's safe.

But there are other parts of the world that are a bit ahead of us, opening up and removing all restrictions.

The UK removed restrictions in July, Denmark ended COVID restrictions two weeks ago, and Norway removed restrictions over the weekend.

So on today's Coronacast, what can we learn from those countries on our own path to eventually reopening?

Also on today's show:

* You said that Pfizer drops 22 per cent every month in effectiveness. Does this mean that after 5 months if you had Pfizer, you're no longer protected against COVID?

* Is there any risk of catching the virus from swimming pool water?

Are vaccines better at preventing infection than we thought? Sep 27, 2021

Australia's vaccination rate increasing over the weeks has been a thing of beauty to watch, and hopefully soon will help pay out dividends.

But along with helping prevent the hospital system from collapsing, vaccines might be better than we thought at helping you avoid catching COVID-19 at all.

A pre-print study out of the UK has recently reported back in a massive study and has been able to slice and dice all sorts of variables when it comes to avoiding COVID.

But there are some interesting differences depending on which vaccine you got.

Is the path out of lockdowns a one-way street? Sep 17, 2021

*** AFTER THIS EPISODE, WE'RE TAKING A WEEK OFF! WE'LL BACK ON THE 27TH SEPTEMBER! ***

Victorians have hit their first big vaccine milestone of 70 percent first dose coverage, and have been given a slight reprieve in lockdown restrictions.

Small outdoor gatherings, increased distances of travel for shopping or exercise and reopening of outdoor exercise equipment are some of the changes.

But as Melbourne - and Sydney - take small steps to eventual reopening, what are the chances that they - or other parts of the country - will end up back in lockdown down the line?

Also on today's show:

* Do NSW data show that our vaccines might be better at preventing infection than we thought?

* Peer reviewed data from Israel shows boosters work for the Pfizer vaccine

* How long will it be until a person with COVID-19 does not need to isolate for 14 days?

* Has any research been conducted to determine a difference in vaccine reactions between males and females?

* My son is 15 months old and has never been sick. Is there any research about what COVID-19 might do with an almost completely new immune system?

Is the NSW curve bending or flattening? Sep 16, 2021

NSW yesterday hit a new milestone for vaccination in Australia.

More than 80 per cent of the state has now had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and it's still rocketing along.

While it's still several more weeks before the 70 per cent double vaccination targets are met, for everyone under lockdown it's a wonderful thing to see.

Add to that the hope that the state could be starting to see that the curve in new cases is levelling off.

Also on today's show:

* Lockdowns see life get worse for many Australians

* What are the chances of someone taking the COVID-19 virus to a gym or club, pub or restaurant if only the fully vaccinated are allowed in?

Why vaccinated people shouldn't have more freedoms (quite yet) Sep 15, 2021

Fully vaccinated people in NSW are counting down the days until they can get some additional freedoms when the state reaches the 70 per cent vaccination rate.

But some experts are warning that releasing the brake too quickly might see case numbers and then hospitalisations shoot up again

So why could cases once again rise when 70 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated?

That's on today's Coronacast.

Also on today's show:

* Dr Swan said he would not go back to the gym at 70 per cent vaccination rates. Why not? As a fully vaccinated person isn't it safe?

* Cases dropping in NSW? ACT goes another month for lockdowns and Victoria still struggling

* Western Australians over 60 can get Pfizer jab now. Should we redirect the vaccine to NSW and/or Victoria?

Even with high vaccination, we might need more ... Sep 14, 2021

We keep hearing that vaccination might not be enough to get us out of the grip of COVID - so what will be enough?

Well, a new group of Australian experts has taken a stab at the types of interventions that may be required alongside vaccination if we are to successfully live with COVID-19.

While high vaccination rates are part of it, it also includes measures like proper ventilation in buildings, vaccinating children when possible, masks and extra vaccine doses.

So on today's Coronacast, how might we live with COVID-19 in 2022?

Also on today's show:

* What was the first year of COVID like in Australia for our health?

* Updates on NSW and Victoria.

Moderna is coming! What is it again? Sep 13, 2021

A new vaccine will be arriving next week in Australia, to help bolster vaccine rates and protect Australians from COVID-19.

The Moderna vaccine, known by its brand name Spikevax or by its scientific name mRNA-1273, is the country's third vaccine to be administered to the public.

The Federal Government yesterday announced additional supplies of Moderna, in addition to the ten million doses already coming later this year.

So on today's Coronacast, who is Moderna? And what can we expect from this vaccine?

Also on today's show:

* Will Norman go back to the Gym at 70 per cent?

* What do we know about the COVID-19 vaccine on pregnancy?

NSW's big (risky?) leap to reopening! Sep 10, 2021

The NSW Government has released its plan on what will happen once the state passes the 70 per cent double-vaccination target.

Changes for fully vaccinated people include abilities to visit more hospitality and retail venues, visit each other at home and head back into stadiums.

But the 70 per cent double-vaccination target is only of eligible people, so works out to be roughly 56 per cent of the whole population.

So on today's Coronacast, how risky is the plan?

Also on today's show:

* Vaccine passports! Coming to a place near you. How might they work and how reliable are they?

What might the next few weeks look like? Sep 09, 2021

After a massive few months of outbreaks and lockdowns popping up across the country, things seem to have stabilised a bit lately.

While health authorities remain on alert around the nation, serious outbreaks are being managed in three jurisdictions: NSW, Victoria and ACT.

Everyone is racing towards high levels of vaccination to either control the outbreak or to avoid the worst of it if another one pops up.

So on today's Coronacast, how is everything going and the race to 80 per cent plus.

Also on today's show:

* If you've been double vaccinated, isn't it better to get exposed to covid to get a good immune response rather than getting a booster shot?

* What is the rate of hospitalisation once we reach 70 per cent (16+) and 80 per cent vaccinated?

I know the vaccine will protect me, but will it protect others? Sep 08, 2021

We keep hearing that the coronavirus vaccine isn't 100 per cent effective in stopping transmission of the virus from one person to another.

And so you could be forgiven for thinking, well what's the point of getting vaccinated if it only protects you from severe disease and doesn't help protect others around you.

Well, the good news is that it does help protect others because it does lower the risk of transmitting the virus, and we have the evidence to prove it.

That's on today's Coronacast.

Also on today's show:

* Are we getting to the peak of the outbreak in NSW?

* Why do you have to inject the COVID-19 vaccine?

Why aren't more Indigenous people vaccinated? Sep 07, 2021

As we race towards our national COVID-19 vaccination targets, it's sometimes easy to forget that broad averages like 70 and 80 per cent don't always tell the full story.

One area in particular to keep an eye on is the vaccination rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Indigenous Australians are well behind non-Indigenous Australians in the vaccination rollout across large parts of the country.

So on today's Coronacast, what are the barriers to First Nations' people being vaccinated?

Also on today's show:

* When will NSW peak?

* Duration of peak infectiousness

Is it fair to wait to reopen until kids are vaccinated? Sep 06, 2021

As Australia's vaccine rollout continues to grow, and more people get the opportunity to be vaccinated, attention is turning to those who can't.

From the 13th September, kids aged 12-15 can get their jab. But many are wondering when - or if - children younger than that may get their chance.

And in Queensland, Premier Anna Palaszczuk has suggested delaying opening up until kids under 12 can get a shot - but there are still no vaccines approved anywhere in the world for that age group.

So on today's Coronacast, what do we know about young children and Delta? And is it fair to wait until they too can be vaccinated?

Also on today's show:

* Does vaccination reduce your risk of long COVID?

* And what do we know about AstraZeneca and booster doses?

Boost me baby! Should we all actually have three doses? Sep 03, 2021

It's well known by now that you need to have both doses of whatever vaccine you have for the best possible protection against coronavirus.

But what if it actually takes three shots to get there?

We are learning more and more about immunity against COVID-19 from overseas experiences, including a successful booster program in Israel.

So might the ol' two dose vaccine regime actually take three? That's on today's Coronacast.

Victoria gives up on donut days forever Sep 02, 2021

There are to be no large changes to Victoria's lockdown restrictions, after a large jump in cases overnight and Government acceptance that the Delta outbreak can't be brought back to zero.

Apart from some small changes, such as reopening playgrounds, people in Melbourne will remain in lockdown until vaccine levels get high enough.

But that's not to say the lockdown in both Victoria and NSW has been without success. Modelling has shown many tens of thousands of cases have been prevented with the extreme social distancing.

So on today's Coronacast, what happened in Victoria and what could it mean for other states?

Also on today's show:

* An interesting study from Hong Kong on eye sight and lockdowns.

* My kid's best friends come from a family that's vehemently opposed to the vaccine. We hang out all the time. I'm not going to convince them and I don't want to stop being with them but I'm concerned there is additional risk there for us. What should I do?

From COVID-zero to the ultimate balancing act Sep 01, 2021

The Victorian Government will today announce details around how it plans to manage COVID-19 cases as it rushes to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews said he'd be meeting with health officials to develop thresholds for the easing of the lockdown, where possible.

It's a move away from the COVID-zero goal of the past, as it appears unlikely that the state will manage to eliminate the spread of the Delta variant.

So on today's Coronacast, is this a new medium term strategy of balancing caseloads with the hope enough people will be vaccinated before the health system crumbles?

Also on today's show:

* Is there any research on having a mRNA shot first followed by Astra in terms of efficacy and safety?

* An interesting study on COVID-19 and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Why is the "worst month" for NSW in October? Aug 31, 2021

It was another record day yesterday for NSW in COVID-19 cases, and the wave is showing no signs of slowing down.

And yesterday in even more grim news, the Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged that October would be the worst month for hospitals and ICU units.

That's despite the vaccination rate in NSW charging ahead thanks to a population rushing forward to be vaccinated and additional supply helping things out.

So on today's Coronacast, why is October being tipped to be bad when the vaccine rate is growing so quickly?

Also on today's show:

* What can we learn about long-COVID from the people who've lived with it longest?

* I am confused by the target of 70 to 80 per cent immunisation before opening up. There is a very big difference between 70 and 80. Can you explain please?

* What's the likelihood that our third doses of mRNA vaccine will have been changed to specifically target the Delta variant?

Didn't Victoria do everything right? Aug 30, 2021

Case numbers in both Victoria and NSW continue to climb, with both states yesterday posting new daily records for this year.

While Victoria's daily cases are far behind NSW, Victoria is on a similar trajectory as NSW was - despite locking down hard and early.

So what's going on? Why are cases continuing to rise?

Also on today's show:

* ATAGI recommends vaccinations for 12-15 year olds

* With kids getting the vaccines, what will that mean for the 70/80 per cent targets (as more people are now getting vaccinated)

* What is the likelihood of an even more transmissible or deadly strain emerging and what should we be doing to be ready for it?

Despite 1000+ cases, a sliver of freedom for NSW Aug 27, 2021

Fully vaccinated NSW residents will be given a very small increase in freedoms, after the state reached more than 6 million vaccination doses earlier this week.

The state's Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday revealed that from mid-September, people who are fully vaccinated will be able to meet more people or spend more time outdoors - depending on where they live.

But it wasn't all good news, with the state revealing more than 1000 new COVID-19 cases - the highest it's been in Australia at any point of the pandemic.

So on today's Coronacast, is this a turning point in how lockdowns operate as we move on from trying to eliminate COVID spread?

Also on today's show:

* How are we supposed to keep following the rules when we get nothing in return?

* Please tell us about Lambda and AY3. Should we be concerned?

Does Pfizer wear off more quickly? Aug 26, 2021

You might have heard a friend or family member say 'I'm waiting for Pfizer', on the assumption that the mRNA vaccine works better than others.

But according to a recent study from the University of Oxford, immunity from the Pfizer vaccine may actually start to wane faster than AstraZeneca.

A month ago, Israel began a program of booster shots, giving older people a third shot of the vaccine to try and help tame a growing outbreak of the Delta variant.

So on today's Coronacast, what do we know about how long immunity may last?

Also on today's show:

* What effect would it have on our community if those who are fully vaccinated were given some benefits, such as reduced restrictions?

* When do we stop contact tracing altogether?

What are the assumptions in the Doherty Model? Aug 25, 2021

The Doherty Institute Model is the hottest ticket in town, with everyone from politicians to punters talking about what happens when we reach 70 and 80 per cent vaccination levels.

But there are a lot of assumptions that have to be made to come up with a model, and Doherty Institute's plan is no different.

Among other things, it assumes a certain level of cases, a functioning contact tracing system even at high numbers and vaccines that keep us immune to COVID-19.

But on today's Coronacast, how valid are those assumptions in the real world?

Are kids getting sicker with Delta? Aug 24, 2021

A glance at the headlines reveals some worrying news: it seems the Delta coronavirus variant is affecting young people and kids far more than previous strains.

And it's true, but while more kids are getting Delta, they're not getting more sick.

Data from NSW shows that the infection rate is around 10 to 15 times higher, but the rate of hospitalisation is about the same at roughly 2 per cent.

So what could be going on? And what does should we aim for in regards to vaccinating kids?

Also on today's show:

* From hard lockdowns to softer ones?

* Do old strains of coronavirus disappear after it has mutated into the new strain? Is there only the Delta strain now?

Australia's vaccination rollout goes for gold! Aug 23, 2021

Australia's vaccine rollout got off to a rough start. It slow to begin and was plagued with problems regarding patchy supply and shifting eligibility.

But in the last few weeks, we've really hit our stride with data from the ABC showing that NSW is now vaccinating more people per million each week than the UK and the USA at their peak.

So on today's Coronacast, with increased supply of Pfizer and Moderna due next month and young people running out to get AstraZeneca, can we maintain the pace and will it help us end lockdowns forever?

Also on today's show:

* Can you do an update on exactly what vaccination does and doesn't do in terms of protecting individuals and society?

* I have had one dose of Pfizer. Do I have any protection against the virus yet?

* I'm in Tasmania and over 60 years old but worried about AstraZeneca. Is there any possible alternative?

* Norman always says lockdown early. Can you please explain how Melbourne numbers are going up so quickly despite locking down at the first case?

If COVID was a play, what act are we in? Aug 20, 2021

If there's one thing that's become a feature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that it has seemed to drag on and on.

While it seems like a long time ago, it was only early last year when the SARS-CoV-2 virus popped into our lives.

But how far left have we got to go? If it was a play, what act are we in? And can we take an interval break?

Also on today's show:

* Doherty Institute modelling said we can start opening up at 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination rate. This was based on small numbers in the community. What would be the effect of opening with large numbers?

* Since NSW is headed for thousands more cases, could people living there be travelling internationally before everyone else?

* Has anyone caught COVID-19 twice? If so, was it worse the second time?

Why it's so bad when COVID gets into the regions Aug 19, 2021

As the COVID-19 case numbers in Sydney continue to rise exponentially, regional NSW is also busy battling the spread of the virus.

Of the 633 cases yesterday, there were 23 cases from western NSW, 16 from the Hunter region and 4 in far western NSW.

The continued spread in regional areas is a massive worry, as regional areas have both vulnerable populations and unique challenges not found in metropolitan areas.

Also on today's show:

* Big jump in NSW's testing positivity rate

* Victoria, ACT and New Zealand continue to battle their own outbreaks

* If zero cases in NSW is no longer an option, but it is still possible elsewhere, what do we do?

* What does Norman mean when he refers to getting the NSW second wave "under control". He often says this after quoting experts who think COVID zero is out of reach. What are we aiming for in NSW?

Three scenarios for our future with COVID Aug 18, 2021

As we can see from what's happening around the country, the Delta variant has changed the game when it comes to controlling the spread of coronavirus.

It seems unlikely Sydney will ever regain control, and there are major battles in ACT and Melbourne.

The Delta variant has surprised virologists with how it popped into existence and how it has so rapidly taken over.

But not all is lost. On today's Coronacast, the three scenarios of where we could be headed next.

Also on today's show:

* A worrying risk of double infections in children

* What's going on with NSW contact tracing?

COVID infiltrates the capital. Can Sydney stop the spread? Aug 13, 2021

The ACT is in a week-long lockdown, joining many other regional NSW local government areas and Melbourne on their journey to stopping Delta.

The ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman says as yet there's no known link back to known Sydney cases, and genomic information will be available today.

And Victoria yesterday recorded two cases in hotel quarantine who had arrived on a plane from Sydney.

So on today's Coronacast, with the virus continuing to push outwards, can anything be done to stop it?

Coronacast is taking a small break. We'll be back on Wednesday 18th August!

Could the world eradicate COVID-19? Aug 12, 2021

It sounds impossible: the complete and utter annihilation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, worldwide. Almost too silly to even mention.

Well, according to a research paper published in the British Medical Journal's Global Health it's something that - while very difficult - may be possible.

The article says that COVID-19 eradication might be slightly more feasible than for polio, which was almost eradicated from the world.

So on today's Coronacast, is it possible? And what else is the research telling us about COVID-19?

Are the rules different for Sydney's Delta fight? Aug 11, 2021

If you've been following the daily COVID-19 case numbers in Sydney, you'll know the numbers are steadily increasing.

So far, despite a lockdown lasting weeks and weeks, the NSW Government's restrictions have not yet managed to bend the curve.

The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the fight against Delta means the old way of doing things needs to be revisited and it needs a different approach.

So on today's Coronacast, does Delta change things? And if so, how?

Also on today's show:

* Research finds infections were three times lower in people who were fully vaccinated

How do we keep kids safe if they can't get vaccinated? Aug 10, 2021

The nation's vaccine goals are all about getting 70 to 80 per cent of people aged 16 or more vaccinated.

But that still leaves large numbers of people who aren't vaccinated, and the vast majority of them are kids.

So what's the plan for kids when the country starts opening up and what do we know about when vaccines might be trialled and approved for children?

Also on today's show:

* If two doses of either COVID-19 vaccines offer around 90 per cent protection against hospitalisation and death from the virus, that is still a 1 in 10 chance of being hospitalised if I get the virus. I thought that without being vaccinated the hospitalisation rate was around 1 in 10. I must be missing something here. Can you please explain?

* More on the time gap between AstraZeneca shots in different states.

The new reality of short, sharp lockdowns Aug 09, 2021

It seems short, sharp lockdowns are the new black, and are now being used regularly down the east coast of mainland Australia.

Brisbane's short, sharp lockdown lifted yesterday, but Victoria, Cairns and parts of regional NSW have all entered one since last week.

So are we going to see large parts of Australia enter and exit lockdown until enough of us are vaccinated?

Also on today's show:

* Why you may be better covered by getting AstraZeneca today, rather than waiting for another option

* You spoke about a study that indicated that Pfizer is 88 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic disease. Does that also mean that the remaining 12 per cent means that even if you do get symptoms they are likely to be far less severe?

Why not make vaccinations mandatory? (for certain jobs?) Aug 06, 2021

As Australia's march towards higher and higher rates of vaccination rolls on, more and more ideas are being thrown around to try and convince eligible people to get the jab.

Yesterday, fruit and vegetable processor SPC became the first Australian company to mandate vaccines for all onsite staff and visitors.

It raises the question: if SPC can do it, why aren't we seeing similar mandates for healthcare, aged care and child care workers?

At the moment, the answer is ... complicated, as you'll hear on today's Coronacast.

Also on today's show:

* Kids and long COVID. Good news!

* How effective are masks? I've read 80 per cent, then heard someone say 40 per cent. What's the latest research?

* Norman has often said that 80 to 90 per cent of people don't pass on the virus. I don't have any special data on this but that *feels* way too high. Is it?

Give me some hope Doc! Aug 05, 2021

With the coronavirus outbreak in NSW not yet showing many signs of getting better, and another outbreak in Queensland growing by the day - it's all a bit depressing

But there is good news: the vaccine program is finally speeding up and with every passing day thousands more people are vaccinated against COVID-19.

So on today's Coronacast, if very high vaccination rates can continue in NSW, a turn around might not be as far away as we fear.

Also on today's show:

* The end of winter will coincide with predicted population vaccination goals. How do we distinguish between the seasonal aspect of COVID and vaccine effect?

* Why is forcing over 60s to have AstraZeneca not being recognised as discrimination and agism?

* I am 61, when will I be eligible for the Pfizer jab?

* Can we get more Pfizer doses by using the remaining amount at the end of each vial?

The official modelling is out! Now what?! Aug 04, 2021

If you thought we’ve suddenly been awash with modelling on the best way forward for Australia's response to coronavirus and how to reach so-called herd immunity you’d be right.

But yesterday we got the report we’ve all been waiting for: the assumptions and details behind the Doherty Institute’s modelling.

The Doherty Institute is one of the best in the country and it's the organisation that’s been advising the Commonwealth on how to get a soft landing in this pandemic when we eventually reopen to the world.

So on today’s Coronacast, what can we take away from the report and might we soon see a vaccine rollout shakeup?

What is it like inside Sydney's ICU wards? Aug 03, 2021

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Sydney continues to grow, so do the numbers of people in hospital and intensive care.

Currently, there are 232 COVID-19 cases in hospital in NSW. 54 of them are in intensive care and 25 require ventilation.

So what's it like inside Sydney's ICU wards? And how does it differ from last year?

Also on today's show:

* Why are kids under 16 left out of the national roadmap?

* Are we throwing under 16's or under 12's under a bus by not including them in the roll out for the vaccine?

* Why do we still have vaccine eligibility? Wouldn't it be better to set up a hub and let anyone who wants it come and get it?

Is 70 per cent fully vaccinated enough? Aug 02, 2021

Australia is planning on taking the next big steps in its response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Government last week released a four-stage plan on how we'll manage virus outbreaks as more and more of us are vaccinated.

In it, the first trigger point comes when 70 per cent of the eligible population - that's 16 years or older - are fully vaccinated.

On today's Coronacast, why that number might be a bit easier to reach than you'd think and why it might not be enough to see the end of restrictions.

Also on today's show:

* What is the reasoning behind NSW Government's decision to prioritise vaccinating year 12 students?

The magic number to end lockdowns forever Jul 30, 2021

Do you like the sound of no more lockdowns? What about minimal to no restrictions on day-to-day life?

We constantly hear vaccination is our way out of this bloody pandemic, but just how many of us need to get vaccinated before it can end?

Well, the experts over at the Grattan Institute have tackled this very problem and say the figure is 80 per cent of Australians.

So on today's Coronacast, since only 32 per cent of us have at least one dose, it seems like there's a road to travel. But how long might it take?

GUEST:Professor Stephen Duckett, Director, Health Program at Grattan Institute

Another four weeks. Will it change things? Jul 29, 2021

Sydneysiders face another four weeks in lockdown, as health authorities desperately try to bend the curve of coronavirus infections.

While there has been some tightening of restrictions, epidemiologists remain skeptical it'll achieve a decline in caseloads anytime soon.

Restrictions are tighter in eight of Sydney's local government areas, which were expanded to include Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River where people can't leave unless for very specific work.

So on today's Coronacast, will four more weeks be enough? Or in a month, could we be in the same place we are now?

What next for Sydney's lockdown? Jul 28, 2021

As lockdowns lift in Victoria and South Australia overnight, big problems remain in New South Wales.

A week ago, NSW had posted 110 locally acquired cases.

Yesterday, it recorded 172 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since the outbreak began in June.

So on today's Coronacast, as Sydneysiders wait to hear about the future of the lockdown, what might the NSW Government be considering?

Also on today's show:

* What is the latest on natural immunity? How long does it last?

* There was talk in Victoria with some cases testing positive on day 13 in isolation. Doesn't Delta have a quicker onset than other strains?

Is Delta deadlier for younger people? Jul 27, 2021

As new coronavirus variants come onto the scene, it forces us to revisit what we know about COVID-19 and how to deal with it.

We already know the Delta variant is more infectious, but is it more deadly?

Early data from overseas, and from Australia on ICU admissions imply that it is - but knowing for sure may take a bit longer to know.

Also on today's show:

* Say you got the vaccine and then 30 seconds later, a shark bit off your arm. Would the vaccine still be effective, or does enough of the vaccine stuff happen in your arm itself that you'd need another dose?

Why are 40% of Australians in their 60s not vaccinated yet? Jul 26, 2021

While millions of young people wait for enough vaccine to arrive in the country, there are still large numbers of people who are eligible today that haven't yet gotten a shot.

According to Commonwealth data, roughly 40 per cent of Australians in their 60s have not yet been vaccinated.

It's vital that as many people are vaccinated as possible, and for the Delta variant currently circulating in the country's largest states, a person needs two shots for the best protection.

On today's Coronacast, if people in their 60s are waiting for Pfizer, they might be waiting for a while.

Also on today's show:

* If Delta is more contagious, are masks less effective?

What if NSW can't get it under control? Jul 23, 2021

A lot is riding on NSW being able to get its hand around its COVID-19 outbreak and bring it all back under control, but there's no guarantee that it'll be able to do it.

And there are huge implications for the rest of the country.

What will happen to hotel quarantine? Will other states give up vaccine allocations to the state most in need? And how will people travel in and out of NSW?

Also on today's show:

* Comparative effectiveness of COVID vaccines against Delta

* Aaaaand Quick Fire Friday

References:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2108891

What can we learn from the UK's Freedom Day? Jul 22, 2021

Ever since the pandemic begun, we've all be looking forward to the day it's finally over.

As Australia grapples with Delta outbreaks in three capital cities, other places in the world - like the UK - are throwing the doors open and hoping for the best.

The UK's experience can give a guide on how many people need to be fully vaccinated before big moves are made, but with surging infections it also may provide a warning.

So on today's Coronacast, what can we learn from the UK's Freedom Day?

Also on today's show:

* What does Delta mean for 1.5 meter separation and 15 minute exposure windows?

* What if NSW can't get on top of the Delta outbreak?

* More stories on testing times

Is Delta changing the way we go into lockdown? Jul 21, 2021

South Australia has spent the first night of a week long lockdown after discovering a bunch of community cases of the highly infectious Delta variant.

It's a different way of handling an outbreak, especially when compared to NSW which waited much longer before declaring a lockdown.

So why do we still see some states act faster than others? And has the Delta variant changed the way contact tracing can help avoid locking down.

Also on today's show:

* More concerns about testing times in NSW and a possible way to reduce the stress on the system

* Whatever happened to deep cleaning?

* How can you consult your GP about vaccines if you don't have one?