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Head of the Oxford jab programme Andrew Pollard says that the threat of COVID is diminishing for those who are vaccinated. While the vaccine does not confer immunity or prevent transmission, current statistics suggest that those who are succumbing to severe symptoms are largely unvaccinated.

Infectious diseases including COVID-19 can affect the respiratory system, inducing coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Preventing damage to the lungs and restoring proper respiration is crucial in overcoming such infections.

Premier Dominic Perrottet prepares to further ease COVID-19 restrictions in retail settings and restaurants on December 15 or when the state’s vaccination rates reach 95%. Venue density limits are also set to end alongside the easing of restrictions, allowing “people to get out and enjoy summer” while “providing a boost” to some of the industries that were hit hardest during the pandemic. School closures will end this Monday, however, with close-contacts no longer required to self-isolate. Negative PCR tests will need to be provided before attending school after a close contact.

Anxiety and insomnia are both broad terms; both relate to a complex of different symptoms and outcomes and are often linked in some way. While anxiety is a state that is not necessarily detrimental to health, however, if it becomes chronic and unmanaged, it can impact on many aspects of personal wellbeing; including sleep.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterised by snoring, choking and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is an insidious problem that often flys under the radar, with many Australians blaming their perpetual tiredness on stress and ageing, when there is actually an underlying sleep disorder that can be simply diagnosed and treated.

Sleep can vary from person to person. With so many different pillows, mattresses and blankets, different people adapt to different sleeping positions. But is there a ‘right’ way to drift off to sleep?

Sleep Apnoea can go undiagnosed and untreated for years. The ramifications of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) can be long-lasting and severe without proper management. Unfortunately, many individuals are either unaware of their condition or have yet to pursue the appropriate treatment options with their doctor.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a condition of varying severity. Some may only experience very mild OSA, whereas others can have a very severe form. Treatment options for OSA depend greatly on the severity of the patient’s symptoms. There are several different primary treatment options for those suffering with OSA designed to cater for mild, moderate and severe forms.

Identified in South Africa last week, the new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus has put health officials and national borders on high alert. Designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO) this weekend, Omicron is yet to be identified as more or less transmissible or infectious as the previous Delta strain that swept over the east coast of Australia earlier this year. Too early to tell if this could be another “transient” variant, experts are quickly learning as much as they can.

Just as our lives had begun to look normal again, news of the new Omicron variant stared sweeping around the world. While little is known at this stage about the nature of the variant, we know that it has already arrived in Australia. With all this uncertainty, many are beginning to ask questions about what the future may hold.

A new preprint article from South Africa suggests that the novel coronavirus variant Omicron is more likely to cause infection in those who have already been infected with a prior strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study, “Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa” used data from 2,796,982 individuals with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 who had a positive test result at least 90 days prior to 27 November 2021.

Australia is among the most vaccinated countries in the world with over 86% of Australians aged over 16 have received two doses, and 75% of adolescents have had their first dose. However, children under 16 are missing from the picture.