Going Viral

 COVID Booster dose Myocarditis following mRNA vaccine Vaccinating 5-11-year-olds with Pfizer Best vaccine delivery method Opening the borders - don’t forget there are many vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 30 mins Guest: A/Prof Nigel Crawford, Infectious Disease Specialist; Director, Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Communit...

Dr Gary Grohmann raises important issues and questions surrounding the imminent release of home rapid antigen test kits in Australia. It is not as clear and simple as it may sound. Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 41 mins Guest: Dr Gary Grohmann, Virologist; Vaccine Manufacturing Expert; Former Director of Immunobiology and WHO ERL at the TGA, Office of Laboratories and Scientific Services Registe...

ATAGI latest Boosters for who? What about this antiviral, Molnupiravir? Moderna safety concerns Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 23 mins Guest: A/Prof Nicholas Wood, Staff Specialist General Paediatrician; Associate Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Register for our fortnightly FREE WEBCASTS Every second Tuesday | 7:00pm-9:00pm AEDT Click here to register fo...

An update on the latest ATAGI announcements Moderna safety data The booster debate Back to school Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 31 mins Guest: A/Prof Nigel Crawford, Infectious Disease Specialist; Director, Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community (SAEFVIC), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Head of Immunisation Services Royal Children’s Hospital, M...

One person’s freedom is another person's going to hospital This plan was developed by business for business Find out more about OzSage Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 25 mins Guest: Prof Stephen Duckett, Health Economist, Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia; Health and Aged Care Program Director, Grattan Institute; Australian public policy think tank and Emeritus Profe...

We are a nation divided as there isn't a uniform message and strategy that is accepted by all states. We need such an agreement in Australia and the leadership must come from Canberra with advice from experts It is vital we continue with social distancing and personal protection restrictions when we intermingle even after we achieve the 80% two jab target We need to vaccinate children and to prote...

An expert applies scientific scrutiny and highlights important issues with Australia’s proposed roadmap out of the pandemic Why is the NSW lockdown not working what must be done Some comments on the UK and Israel situation   Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 37 mins Guest: Prof Stephen Duckett, Health Economist, Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia; Health and Aged C...

One dose of COVID vaccine can reduce secondary outcomes of severe disease and hospitalisations by about 60% Vaccinated individuals can still become infected and transmit the virus and may cause severe disease in those whom they have spread it to Novavax may become the preferred vaccine for boosters, which may be required in 12 months Even after full vaccination, personal safety with masks, hand wa...

GPs have a crucial role in getting the right message to our patients when discussing COVID vaccine options We should stick with the ATAGI recommendations wherever possible In discussing benefits and risks, know the latest figures. Check the weekly ATAGI reports Other voices are causing confusion and have other motives, our principle responsibility is to our patient and we need to block out the noi...

The key to diagnosis is the timing relating to the first dose of the AZ vaccine, most cases occurring between days 4 and 30 Look out for headaches and abdominal pain that are unusual, does not settle with usual treatment, and occur within the 4 – 30 day post immunisation period Key blood tests show thrombocytopenia  <150 and d-dimer >5 times ULN   Host: Dr David Lim | Total t...

In this episode:  Vaccine rollout – an update Latest in vaccine safety Five minutes with Comirnaty – Pfizer vaccine   Host: Dr David Lim, GP |  Total time: 25 mins Guest : A/Prof Nicholas Wood, Staff Specialist General Paediatrician; Associate Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance   Register for our upcoming fortnightly FREE WEBCAST! T...

In this episode:  The twin issues of vaccine rollout and hotel quarantine of returned travellers are capturing our attention The bigger question is when can we open our international borders. To counter vaccine hesitancy, appropriate educational campaigns ought to be happening now Countries whose health systems are collapsing should be helped   Host: Dr David Lim, GP |  Total time:...

In this episode:  Our current vaccine rollout is a mess, mostly because federal politicians are politicising the pandemic Decisions are being made without the important contribution of frontline health professionals There is little transparency in decision making which profoundly erodes trust When politicians start politicising, public health suffers immediately... doctors at the coalface nee...

COVID-19 vaccine current advice Thrombosis and thrombocytopenia Allergic reactions Current Aus-Vax Safety data Host:  Dr David Lim |  Total time: 27 mins Guest: A/Prof Nicholas Wood, Staff Specialist General Paediatrician; Deputy Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Register for our upcoming FREE WEBCAST! Tuesday 27 April 2021 | 7:00pm-9:00pm AEDT Click he...

In this episode:  Stress builds up and coping mechanisms become less effective over time Impact of the static environment, the brain needs variation and experience Preparing for isolation is important, plan activities and schedule social connection Prioritise sleep and routine - sleep can be the 'canary in the coal mine' Look for common symptoms after isolating experience including anxiety, d...

In this episode:  There are many moving parts to make the national COVID-19 immunisation campaign work The GP’s role in ensuring the success and widespread uptake of the Astra Zeneca Oxford vaccine is crucial Issues that can help practices not giving the vaccine a good understanding of what needs to be done so that we can all play our part well   Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 36...

In this episode:  Instead of efficacy, look at the secondary endpoints as vaccine data is being released Whilst the evidence for giving the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine in patients over 65 yrs is small it is still a reasonable option TGA is maintaining a very watchful eye on all new vaccines  It is possible Australia will have 5 different vaccines available by the end of 2021  Host: D...

In this episode:  The South African and Brazilian variants are causing a pandemic within a pandemic, where previous infection may not confer immunity A vaccine conferring 95% efficacy means 90% of adults must be immunised to achieve herd immunity in Australia “Denial" of air borne transmission means that hotels chosen for quarantine poses a significant risk, especially in view of the ne...

In this episode:  The death rate of the elderly (> 80 yrs) in Norway given the Pfizer-BionTech vaccine is about 1:1,000. Vaccine related deaths are usually between 1:100,000 to 1:1,000,000. It is misleading to claim an efficacy of > 90% for the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine Recombinant protein vaccines can be given as a second immunisation for any initial COVID19 vaccine and may be an opti...

In this episode:  Expect Mutations, current vaccines will give immunity to these new strains Even if it significantly alters the spike proteins, vaccines can be reformulated quickly Education is absolutely vital Who should and should not receive these vaccines What to be careful about - we must not mix vaccines as there are no studies to inform us We need a steady hand Host: Dr David Lim | To...

In this episode:  The current data for the AZ vaccine shows efficacy of 62% - insufficient for herd immunity, so new trials are essential If full TGA approval is required for the Australian COVID-19 vaccines then availability by March 2021 seems unrealistic Although the UQ vaccine failed, there are other Australian vaccines under development despite lack of government support   Host...

In this episode:  These technologies were originally developed as gene therapy and have never before been used in humans Efficacy and safety data on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have significant limitations Trust of the public requires objective discussion of these issues   Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 32 mins Guest: Prof Nikolai Petrovsky, Director of Endocrinology, Flinders Medical...

In this episode:  Adverse reactions to the Pfizer BionTech vaccine have been reported and are expected, those with severe allergies advised not to receive this vaccine In Australia we will have the benefit of closely monitoring the experience of other countries; and a range of vaccines Even with vaccines, social distancing; hand washing and use of masks in at-risk venues will remain...

In this episode:  There is no data on whether these vaccines will reduce transmission Cold chain logistics will restrict distribution of the mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) vaccines to specialised centres rather than GP clinics Questions remain regarding young, elderly, immunocompromised, chronic disease   Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 28 mins Guests: Dr Gary Grohmann, Virologist; Vaccine Manu...

In this episode:  Is Australia’s model of quarantine of our returned travellers the safest for our community? Would you travel to the USA for a vacation after you receive your immunisation? Some positives that have arisen because of COVID-19 in Australia.   Host: Dr David Lim | Total time: 34 mins Guests: Prof Adrian Esterman, Epidemiologist and Biostatistician; Professor of Biosta...