Scientists have produced evidence that the pandemic virus is 'uniquely adapted to infect humans', raising fresh questions over whether its origins were natural or could have occurred in a laboratory.
Where did the Coronavirus 19 Originate from? and anything relative to the virus.
Where did the Coronavirus 19 originate from? and anything relative to the virus.
Coronavirus is 'uniquely adapted to infect humans': Top vaccine scientist says it could only have come from an animal through a 'freak of nature' - and the possibility it leaked from Wuhan lab MUST be investigated
2344 comments
Clinical trials are set to begin on two new COVID-19 vaccines being developed in Melbourne that researchers say may improve immunity to the Omicron variant.
The two vaccines were created by researchers at the Doherty Institute and Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS).
The trials will assess the effectiveness of the vaccines as a fourth dose, and will involve people who have already had three doses of a vaccine.
Researchers said the jabs were distinct from existing vaccines as they targeted the tip of the virus spike protein, known as the receptor binding domain (RBD).
The RBD protein vaccine uses part of the virus protein to elicit an immune response, and the RBD mRNA vaccine uses the genetic sequence of the virus.
University of Melbourne researcher Georgia Deliyannis, who conducted most of the RBD protein vaccine experiments at the Doherty Institute, said the vaccine induced a high level of antibodies in pre-clinical trials.
"Immunity induced by the RBD protein vaccine protects against virus challenge in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, even 100 days following the boost," Dr Deliyannis said.
"As well as inducing strong neutralising antibody immunity to the Beta variant in mice, it also retains its potential to neutralise the original ancestral strain, and preliminary in-lab studies have demonstrated neutralising activity against other variants including Delta and Omicron."
The the elderly and vulnerable will begin receiving their winter booster ahead of a predicted winter infection surge from Monday.
Eligible People can have their winter booster shot four months after receiving their first.
A parliamentary hearing was told on Friday eligibility numbers will be “relatively small” initially, with the bulk of people more likely able to book vaccination appointments through May and June.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee expects an infection peak associated will hit in mid-April in several jurisdictions.
Confusion over criteria to receive treatments
There are several COVID-19 treatments available, each used in different circumstances.
Monoclonal antibodies, such as sotrovimab and Evusheld, help stave off an infection by stopping the virus from entering cells.
Antivirals, such as Paxlovid and molnupiravir, deal with an infection by preventing the virus from multiplying.
The Commonwealth government has been building up Australia's stockpiles of monoclonal antibodies and antivirals since last year.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the drugs and the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce provided guidelines for doctors on when they should be prescribed.
But it is the states' and territories' health services that give them to patients.
Dr Moy said not all health services were using the same criteria.
"The one thing that has been a problem has been the inconsistency of the various systems and the criteria across the country," he said.
Australia/New Zealand COVID-19 update 30 March 2022
Australia wide — 66,974 new cases; 480,986 active cases; 2,446 in hospital; 102 in ICU; 34 deaths.
• NSW: 25,235 new cases, 258,112 active cases, 1,301 in hospital, 46 in ICU, 15 deaths.
• VIC: 11,749 new cases, 58,488 active cases, 280 in hospital, 18 in ICU, 7 deaths.
• QLD: 10,626 new cases, 61,865 active cases, 393 in hospital, 15 in ICU, 5 deaths.
• ACT: 1,139 new cases, 5,844 active cases, 48 in hospital, 5 in ICU.
• TAS: 2,472 new cases, 11,902 active cases, 22 in hospital, 2 in ICU, 1 death.
• SA: 5,496 new cases, 31,449 active cases, 180 in hospital, 8 in ICU, 2 deaths.
• WA: 9,754 new cases, 50,957 active cases, 208 in hospital, 6 in ICU, 3 deaths.
• NT: 503 new cases, 2,369 active cases, 14 in hospital, 2 in ICU, 1 death.
• NEW ZEALAND: 15,966 new cases, 104,769 active cases, 817 in hospital, 24 in ICU, 14 deaths.