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Influenza epidemiology, treatment and prevention in Australian children: Trends from 6 years of PAEDS-FluCAN influenza surveillance (2019-2024)

Influenza remains an important cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Immunisation is critical to prevent hospitalisation and severe disease. The COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching effects on influenza epidemiology and vaccine use.

Modelling the impact of long-acting monoclonal antibody, maternal vaccine and hybrid programs of RSV immunisation in temperate Western Australia

Two RSV immunisations products: a maternal vaccine, Abrysvo, and a long-acting monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, both designed to prevent RSV illness in infants, have recently become available. Modelling evidence is required to inform how to optimally use these products in immunisation programs to reduce the burden of RSV in young children.

Vaccine uptake in the context of mandate announcement and removal: Evidence from Europe and North America

The COVID-19 pandemic drove the implementation of vaccine mandates to protect spaces and/or increase vaccine uptake, though their design, timing, and scope varied across jurisdictions. This study examines the associations of vaccine mandate announcements and removals with COVID-19 vaccine uptake in France, Italy, and California (USA).

Using Aboriginal participatory action research within a mixed methods study exploring COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Aboriginal women: a methodological framework for co-design

The COVID-19 pandemic evidenced the critical role of vaccination in reducing the severity of illness and the risk of infection. Despite the policies and efforts of governments to increase vaccination uptake, COVID-19 immunization among Australian Aboriginal pregnant women is lower compared to vaccine uptake of non-Indigenous pregnant women.

Associate Professor Lea-Ann Kirkham

Co-Head, Bacterial Respiratory Infectious Disease Group; Microbiology Lead, Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines & Infectious Diseases

An infant mouse model of influenza-driven nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae colonization and acute otitis media suitable for preclinical testing of novel therapies

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a major otitis media (OM) pathogen, with colonization a prerequisite for disease development. Most acute OM is in children <5 years old, with recurrent and chronic OM impacting hearing and learning. Therapies to prevent NTHi colonization and/or disease are needed, especially for young children. Respiratory viruses are implicated in driving the development of bacterial OM in children.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine primes mucosal immune responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine booster in Papua New Guinean children

Invasive pneumococcal disease remains a major cause of hospitalization and death in Papua New Guinean (PNG) children. We assessed mucosal IgA and IgG responses in PNG infants vaccinated with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) followed by a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) booster.

Evaluation of Pediatric HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis Guideline Following Child Sexual Assault in Western Australia

HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) following child sexual assault (CSA) is recommended in select cases. High rates of poor adherence to PEP are reported. We evaluated adherence to the recommended management of children following CSA at the tertiary pediatric facility in Western Australia and compared our approach with international guidelines.

Statistical considerations for the platform trial in COVID-19 vaccine priming and boosting

The Platform trial In COVID-19 priming and BOOsting (PICOBOO) is a multi-site, adaptive platform trial designed to generate evidence of the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and cross-protection of different booster vaccination strategies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and its variants, specific for the Australian context.

Optimisation of the cultured ELISpot/Fluorospot technique for the selective investigation of SARS-CoV-2 reactive central memory T cells

This study presents an optimised cultured ELISpot protocol for detecting central memory T-cell interferon gamma (IFNγ) responses against SARS-CoV-2 peptides following an initial priming with either peptides, or whole spike protein.