infectious diseases
Worry about cytomegalovirus, not Zika: support group
Mothers from the Congenital CMV Association Australia are on a mission to raise awareness of cytomegalovirus, which they say few Australians know about. One in 150 children is born with …
Zika odds still slim as Australians diagnosed
Experts are still searching for confirmation that the Zika virus is the cause of microcephaly – but the odds of an infected mother’s baby having microcephaly remain slim. “With two …
The five potential epidemics for 2016: Médecins Sans Frontières
As the World Health Organization’s executive board meets in Geneva this week, the international aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has warned of five diseases with the potential to become epidemics …
Extend pharmacy vaccination to full range of jabs: expert
Appropriately trained pharmacists should eventually provide the full range of vaccinations across Australia, says a leading pharmacy vaccination expert. WA community pharmacist and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia Vaccination Committee …
No jab, no pay bill passed
The Government has welcomed the passage of legislation designed to lift national immunisation rates and provide a stronger incentive for immunisation, after the Senate passed the No Jab, No Pay …
Australia the ‘lucky country’ in antibiotic resistance
With high per capita antibiotics usage, a new study has warned Australia is the “lucky country” and must remain vigilant if it is to maintain current levels of low antibiotic …
Scarlet fever an omen of antimicrobial resistance: PSA
The re-emergence of scarlet fever in Asia and parts of the UK provides a timely reminder at the start of Antibiotic Awareness Week (16-22 November) that antimicrobial resistance is real …
Biggest syphilis outbreak in 30 years prompts screening call
Queensland’s peak Aboriginal and Islander health body has called for changes to health screening and increased investment into sexual health in the face of Australia’s biggest reported syphilis outbreak in …
GSK partners with Government on quadrivalent flu jab
GSK Australia is partnering with the Australian Government to provide a quadrivalent influenza vaccine for the National Immunisation Program for the 2016 season. Fluarix® Tetra is a four-strain flu vaccine …
NIP flu jab to be quadrivalent vaccine in 2016: Ley
Vulnerable Australians will get free access to a quadrivalent flu vaccine in 2016 following a record number of reported cases this year. Minister for Health Sussan Ley says the Government …
It’s back: UQ researchers track re-emergence of scarlet fever
An international study led by University of Queensland researchers has tracked the re-emergence of scarlet fever, a childhood disease which had largely disappeared over the past 100 years. Researchers at …
Clinical tips: vaccination distrust explained
Concern over vaccination and distrust of the process is growing, writes Ben Basger… so what can pharmacists do about it? Vaccine hesitancy is becoming increasingly recognised as an issue in …