Vaccination
Updated
Queensland Police
Police service, health department bungled vaccine mandates, judge finds
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the government would consider the ruling. Businessman Clive Palmer, who funded the case, claimed it was a world first.
Latest
Perspective
Flu season
COVID never killed the ‘soldier on’ mentality, especially when you can work from home
Queensland suffered through its worst year for flu in 2023 in decades. And our “soldier on” mentality – which never really went away – isn’t helping.
- by Felicity Caldwell
Analysis
Science
Do the latest vaccines better protect us from COVID-19?
For the first time, Australian researchers have sought to put a number on how much better newer vaccines shield us from severe disease.
- by Angus Dalton
This midwife is double COVID-vaxxed – but she’s still banned from returning to work
Strict vaccination rules require hospital workers to have at least one booster shot, but easing the lingering mandate would bring Victoria in line with other states, and has been backed by vaccine experts.
- by Broede Carmody and Aisha Dow
Brayden told his mother he had a fever. Twenty-four hours later, he was dead
After a second Christmas without her son, Stacey Chater is fighting to make the vaccine that could have saved him free for all babies and teenagers.
- by Angus Thomson
Exclusive
Healthcare
Five million were promised a free shingles vaccine. Two months later there are not enough doses
The federal government promoted that over-65s would be able to receive a new shingles vaccine from November, but GPs have only received a handful of shots.
- by Mary Ward and Rachel Eddie
Opinion
Culture wars
What’s driving former lefties to the right?
Unless the left can articulate a plausible vision of the future, some progressives will continue to be attracted by the uncluttered certainty of conservatism.
- by Michelle Goldberg
Exclusive
GPs
‘Lingering mistrust’ as child vaccination rates fall for second year
Some pockets of NSW, Queensland and Victoria have much lower vaccination rates, as “vaccine refusal” continues to persist.
- by Aisha Dow and Angus Thomson
‘We keep throwing vaccines out, I’d rather get them into arms’
Pharmacies and GPs are seeing an increase in people seeking a COVID-19 shot before Christmas, including younger people not yet recommended to receive another dose.
- by Mary Ward
Killer diseases threaten 60 million who missed vital vaccines during COVID-19 pandemic
“Zero-dose children” account for nearly half of all child deaths from vaccine-preventable illnesses, as advocates warn that pandemic disruption to early years vaccination programs threatens a global health crisis.
- by Stephanie Nolen
‘It’s important to help people understand, rather than call them idiots’
This month named NSW’s Young Australian of the Year, Nikhil Autar finished his medicine degree over 12 years, while completing aggressive cancer treatment.
- by Mary Ward