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Trial results for a new COVID-19 treatment have been described as ‘impressive’ by America’s leading infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci. The Merck pill is an oral antiviral pill, and could be a crucial tool for fighting the pandemic. According to a press release from Merck, the trial found that the drug cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by 50%.

Australia is quickly working towards 80% of over-16s getting vaccinated, now with the added pressure of vaccine mandates and passports. However, there is a very small group of people who can’t get a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons – so who can get a medical exemption, and how?

Two real-world studies published this week have confirmed that the protection from COVID-19 infection given by the Pfizer vaccine wanes after 2 months. According to a study from Qatar, the waning of immunity accelerates after the 4th month, to reach a low level of 20%. However, protection against hospitalisation and death stayed above 90%, meaning Pfizer vaccines are still saving lives.

Good quality sleep is essential for your health – but it could be your diet that’s getting in the way! Here are 6 foods that could be negatively impacting your sleep.

If you find yourself constantly waking up with a dry mouth, your body is trying to tell you something! Here are some common reasons why your body is not producing enough saliva.

As NSW celebrates ‘Freedom Day’, vaccinated people are out enjoying a whole range of activities they haven’t been able to do in 4 months. As a result of this, there will be more mingling between vaccinated and unvaccinated people in public transport, streets, schools and more. Does this pose a risk?

One of the most heavily vaccinated countries, Singapore, has seen a significant rise in cases. From 29 cases on August 22, it has now risen to 3700 cases on October 9. However, there is a silver lining. 98.5% of all local infected cases over the past 4 weeks were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, showing that the vaccine is still saving lives.

After favourable results in an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) trial, Pfizer has now begun the process to get its vaccine approved for children aged 5-11. According to a spokeswoman, the trial results showed a favourable safety profile and a robust antibody response to two doses of the vaccine. The dose size for children aged 5-11 is around one-third of the standard dose size.

Many Australians are nervously waiting for NSW COVID-19 case numbers to surge after reopening on Monday. Singapore has served as a grim warning – with 3000 cases a day despite having higher vaccination rates than Australia open reopening. However, experts have explained that NSW is unlikely to face the same fate.

Australia’s medical regulator has official approved the first COVID-19 self-testing kits for use in Australia. The rapid antigen test kits can be supplied around Australia from November 1. Home testing will form another layer of protection for Australians as we continue to reopen.

Melatonin is a key hormone involved in sleep and is produced naturally in the brain. Melatonin supplements are a popular way to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep, however there are plenty of melatonin-rich foods that you can add to your diet to do the trick:

A healthy diet, exercise and controlling your blood pressure can all reduce the risk of having a stroke – however your sleep quality also plays an important role.