Measles: Australia at risk of losing herd immunity, study suggests

From the BMJ, 24 August 2026: Australia’s hard fought herd immunity to measles is under threat, with a study finding that its population level immunity is hovering just above the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. Australia introduced measles vaccination in 1968, starting with a single vaccine dose for children aged 12-23 months. In 1993 the … Continue reading Measles: Australia at risk of losing herd immunity, study suggests

What do we mean by Covid immunity?

From The Medical Republic, 21 March 2022: There was a time before covid, which seems a distant memory now, when the concepts of “immune” and “immunised” seemed relatively straightforward to anyone outside the field of immunology. Either by virtue of childhood infection or vaccination, a person believed that they were now protected from further assault … Continue reading What do we mean by Covid immunity?

Whooping cough vaccine: how well is it working?

From ABC Health and Wellbeing, 14 August 2012: New research shows the current whooping cough vaccine is not as effective as its predecessor, so what’s the best way to protect children against this potentially deadly infection? A highly contagious disease, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough is known for its severe coughing attacks … Continue reading Whooping cough vaccine: how well is it working?

Whooping cough vaccine weaker but safer

From ABC Science, News in Science, 8 August 2012: The current whooping cough vaccine offers less protection against infection but is much safer than the older whole-cell vaccine, Australian researchers have found. The study examined Queensland immunisation and disease registers, which included more than 40,000 children born in 1998 who had received the vaccine. They … Continue reading Whooping cough vaccine weaker but safer