COVID-19 vaccination will soon be mandatory for all health workers. The new public health order will be signed in the following days, having reached an agreement with the state’s major medical groups. The current proposal would require all health care workers to have received their first dose by September 30 and second by November 30.
NSW is breaking daily COVID-19 case records nearly every day, with 681 cases recorded today. However, the other numbers revealed might be more concerning.
In a bid to get more people vaccinated, big companies like Telstra, Bapcor, and Virgin airlines are offering employees rewards if they get vaccinated. Telstra announced a $200 voluntary incentive for staff members who get fully vaccinated, including those already vaccinated. Automotive parts company Bapcor is offering workers a $100 gift card, and Virgin airlines are offering staff free tickets, frequent flyer points and business class flights. NAB has a slightly different program, promising to match every employee vaccination with a vaccination for someone in Fiji or Papua New Guinea with the ‘Give the World a Shot’ program.
New research from Johns Hopkins University has shown that people previously infected with COVID-19 are 4.5 times more likely to experience significant side effects from the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Significant side effects included fatigue, fever and chills, with side effects such as injection site pain, mild fatigue and headaches considered mild. The good news is that 953 of the 954 healthcare workers studied developed strong antibody responses, regardless of any side effects experienced.
The NSW government was finally forced to call a total lockdown on the weekend, as cases continue to soar and spread out to regional areas. Unfortunately, the soft lockdown approach may have come at enormous cost. If a two-week total lockdown had been called when the Delta variant first appeared in Bondi, it would’ve cost less than $3 billion, if successful. Currently, the restrictions and lockdowns in NSW are estimated to have cost $17 billion, and counting.
Sleep apnea is very common, affecting approximately 34% of middle-aged men and 17% of middle-aged women. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – being the most common type - is linked to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes. However a recent article published by the American Heart Association has found it can also damage key blood vessels leading to accelerated vascular ageing.
As we age, our quality of sleep often deteriorates causing daytime sleepiness. This is especially common in the elderly with prevalence rates of up to 50%. The most common reason for declined sleep quality is sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – a disruption of normal breathing during sleep.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced plans to reopen New Zealand’s borders in early 2022 – without changing their COVID-19 elimination strategy. A risk-based system based on country and vaccination status will offer different travel pathways for people coming into New Zealand. Vaccinated travellers from high risk countries will still need to quarantine for 14 days, but vaccinated travellers from low risk countries can expect to avoid quarantine all together.
As of the 11th of August, there have been 357 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital in NSW, with 60 people admitted to ICU. As the Delta outbreak continues, it’s important to understand what severe COVID-19 is actually like.
