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Research
BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial (BRACE trial)BCG vaccination modulates immune responses to unrelated pathogens. This off-target effect could reduce the impact of emerging pathogens. As a readily available, inexpensive intervention that has a well-established safety profile, BCG is a good candidate for protecting healthcare workers (HCWs) and other vulnerable groups against COVID-19.

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Telethon donations fund early flu protection for bubsBabies 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.

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Video: Flu vaccine Q&AIt's that time of year again... Flu vaccine time! Watch Dr Chris Blyth answer commonly asked questions in the video below.
Research
Spatiotemporal patterns of influenza in Western AustraliaUnderstanding the geospatial distribution of influenza infection and the risk factors associated with infection clustering can inform targeted preventive interventions. We conducted a geospatial analysis to investigate the spatial patterns and identify drivers of medically attended influenza infection across all age groups in Western Australia.
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The relationship between administratively recorded ethnicity and outcomes for people admitted to Australian intensive care units with COVID-19The relationship between ethnicity and mortality of patients critically ill with COVID-19 in Australia has not been described. Defining those communities at the highest risk of severe COVID-19 may assist with formulating effective public health policy and may improve the equitable delivery of health care in Australia.
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Long-term derangement of antigen presenting cell populations in the respiratory tract following Influenza A infectionThis project investigates how different populations of cells within the respiratory tract immune system are altered during a viral infection.
Latest news & events at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases.
Research
Acute diesel exhaust particle exposure increases viral titre and inflammation associated with existing influenzaExposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is thought to exacerbate many pre-existing respiratory diseases.
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From program suspension to the pandemic: A qualitative examination of Australia's vaccine pharmacovigilance system over 10 yearsIn 2010, the Australian seasonal influenza vaccination program for children under 5 years of age was suspended due to an unexpected increase in fever and febrile convulsions causally associated with one particular influenza vaccine brand. A subsequent national review made seven recommendations to improve vaccine pharmacovigilance.
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PCV10 elicits Protein D IgG responses in Papua New Guinean children but has no impact on NTHi carriage in the first two years of lifeNasopharyngeal colonisation with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is associated with development of infections including pneumonia and otitis media. The 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) uses NTHi Protein D (PD) as a carrier. Papua New Guinean children have exceptionally early and dense NTHi carriage, and high rates of NTHi-associated disease.