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Beating the flu bug

Perth children are being asked to volunteer for an important national study to test the effectiveness of an influenza vaccine in children.

Expanded FluMist® program gives more young Western Australians access to needle-free flu protection

More young Western Australians will have access to needle-free protection against influenza this winter, with the WA Government expanding its nation-leading FluMist® program to include teenagers aged 12 to 17 years.

Free vaccines for pregnant mums see monumental rise in protection for WA babies

New collaborative research involving almost 600,000 pregnant mothers has demonstrated a dramatic increase in uptake of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine after identifying just 22 per cent of WA women had the maternal vaccination between 2012 – 2017.

Telethon donations fund early flu protection for bubs

Babies worldwide could have access to life-saving influenza vaccinations from just eight weeks of age thanks to researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia and the generous support of the Telethon community.

Landmark Australian influenza collaboration finalist for Eureka Prize

Infectious disease researchers who used a decade of scientific evidence to advocate for a nationwide childhood influenza immunisation policy have earned a finalist position at the country’s most prestigious science awards – the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

Deborah Lehmann Research Award Opportunity

The Deborah Lehmann Research Award in Paediatric Infectious Disease Research is a funding mechanism to support the training and development of early- to mid-career researchers (EMCR) or Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students who are nationals from the Pacific Region working in or outside their hom

Childhood influenza vaccination rates improves with better access

More children across Australia are being vaccinated against the flu since funding was expanded and access widened under the National Immunisation Program

The Impact of Obesity on Influenza Vaccine Immunogenicity and Antibody Transfer to the Infant During Pregnancy

Influenza vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, offering the dual benefit of protecting pregnant women and their newborn infants against influenza. This study aimed to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on influenza vaccine responses in pregnant women and their newborns. 

Effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing RSV-hospitalisation among young children in Western Australia 2024

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes a significant burden of illness for children under 2 years of age. Nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, was registered for RSV prevention in Australia in 2023. In April 2024, Western Australia (WA) launched the country's first state-wide nirsevimab program for all infants and high-risk children entering their second RSV season. 

Biases in Routine Influenza Surveillance Indicators Used to Monitor Infection Incidence and Recommendations for Improvement

Monitoring how the incidence of influenza infections changes over time is important for quantifying the transmission dynamics and clinical severity of influenza. Infection incidence is difficult to measure directly, and hence, other quantities which are more amenable to surveillance are used to monitor trends in infection levels, with the implicit assumption that they correlate with infection incidence.