Vaccines and Immunity

Health authorities urge West Australians to vaccinate against influenza and RSV, as the state lags behind the rest of the country in flu jab uptake.

As flu cases in Canberra continue to climb, health authorities are urging people to get vaccinated against influenza — but pharmacists are grappling with supply challenges.

Scientists have used blood from an American man who injected himself with snake venom for years to create what they say is "the most broadly effective antivenom to date" — at least in mice.

The US Health Secretary has incorrectly claimed the measles jab contains aborted foetus cells, while scientists warn the country is at a tipping point for the infection to become endemic for the first time in 25 years. 

Vaccine Nation is a warning about the acceleration of the anti-vaccination movement during the pandemic and worrying declines in vaccination rates around the world. Can we correct course before it's too late? 

Australia's $6 billion pork industry is still waiting for a vaccine three years after a deadly outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus.

Less than half of Australia's aged care residents aged 75 years and older are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, despite being at highest risk of severe health outcomes.

Three local councils in South Australia have been passing motions questioning vaccines, but health experts say they are based on misinformation and heighten community risk.

The virus that causes shingles is just one of a number of pathogens that may be linked to brain conditions. Here are some of the other bugs scientists have under the microscope.

One less infant, under the age of six months, was hospitalised each day following the release of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) shot, Queensland Health says.

The earlier than normal arrival of this year's flu season has doctors urging Australians to roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated. 

Australia is in the middle of a surge in measles cases amid a global spike and declining childhood vaccination rates. So what precautions should be taken to avoid widespread transmission? 

Adults can catch and spread the disease, especially if they are under-vaccinated — a category many Australians might find themselves in. Here's what you need to know about getting fully vaccinated against measles.

The shingles vaccine could be an effective intervention for dementia, with a large "natural experiment" in Wales finding a substantial drop in dementia risk for those who received the vaccine.

A record number of influenza cases has been recorded in Australia, jumping 50 per cent from the same period last year. Experts are predicting flu season to come earlier than usual.

In recent years, the familiar symptoms of the flu might kick us into reaching for at-home testing kits. But on the eve of the next flu season, public health experts say the best approach is what we've always done.

More than 2,300 cases of the flu have been recorded in SA so far this year — 690 more than the same time last year — and the government is urging parents with young children to get their free vaccination.

WA Health authorities say the number of measles cases is likely to grow in coming days after three more cases were identified during the weekend.

The health secretary says the move will reduce "bureaucratic sprawl" but has led to concerns it would lead agencies to drastically scale back their operations.

National Health reporter Elise Worthington says there have been 33 cases of the disease in Australia this year, with 16 of those in New South Wales.