COVID-19: the facts
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR LEADING SCIENTISTS?
Email your questions on COVID-19 to us! We can't answer all emails personally but will seek to present the information you need in future videos and articles.
Find out about COVID-19
Responses to and management of the COVID-19 pandemic are evolving as the spread of the virus continues in Australia and globally.
To help people understand the changing situation and make decisions, the Australian Academy of Science is producing articles and videos based on the latest available knowledge. This information aligns with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health, and it is important that directives from the Department of Health and other jurisdictions such as state and territory governments are followed.
On this page are our articles and videos that present up-to-date information. There is also information about everything the Academy is doing to help the nation respond to the pandemic.
We also share our content on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Follow us to keep up with our latest information.
Articles
- Is flu really that bad in kids this winter?
- Is it legit? Top tips for spotting misinformation
- Not vaccinated? These are your odds of needing intensive care
- Winter boosters: what you need to know
- Kids and COVID-19 vaccines: everything you need to know
- The next steps: COVID-19 vaccine boosters
- Can I get COVID-19 if I am fully vaccinated?
- Concerned about fertility and erectile dysfunction? Get vaccinated
- Pregnant? Don't wait to vaccinate
- What is long COVID and how do I avoid it?
- COVID-19 vaccines and their long-term safety
- COVID-19 vaccines and variants: how do they work?
- Pregnancies, periods and COVID-19 vaccines: what you need to know
- Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine? How to weigh up your risks and benefits
- What we know about the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots
- Don't catch my disease
- What impact will COVID-19 have on the environment?
- Finding a vaccine for COVID-19
- The mathematics of social distancing
- Hand sanitiser or soap: making an informed choice for COVID-19
- Isolation and anxiety: strategies to cope during COVID-19
Infographics
Videos
- What causes COVID-19 variants?
- Your vaccine questions: COVID-19 and children
- What is long COVID?
- Does vaccination protect everybody?
- Four important questions about COVID-19 with Professor Sharon Lewin
- Four important questions about COVID-19 with Professor Brendan Crabb
- Why masks matter
- COVID-19 vaccine: Risks and benefits
- Five important questions about COVID-19
- COVID-19 vaccine: What you need to know
- Vaccine confusion?: Here are the facts.
- How does efficacy differ from safety?
- Why was the University of Queensland vaccine scrapped?
- COVID-19 vaccine: Contenders explained
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Raina MacIntyre #3
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Patrick McGorry
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Jenny Graves
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Michael Kidd #2
- Did pangolins start the pandemic?
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Dr Sam Hinton
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Jodie McVernon
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Toby Walsh
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Jill Newby
- COVID-19: The latest from science with Professor Sharon Lewin
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor David Karoly
- Monitoring wastewater to fight COVID-19
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer #3
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor John Shine
- Feeling anxious about home schooling?
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Michael Kidd
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Fiona Stanley
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty #3
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Raina MacIntyre #2
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Carola Vinuesa
- Calm in anxious times: strategies to cope
- COVID-19: Why wait for a vaccine?
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Raina MacIntyre
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Dr Asha Bowen
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty #2
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer #2
- COVID-19: Will stricter social distancing help?
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Eddie Holmes
- COVID-19: What precautions should we take?
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty
- COVID-19: How many will be infected?
- COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer
- COVID-19: Can you get reinfected?
- COVID-19: How can we prepare?
- COVID-19: when will a vaccine be produced?
- COVID-19: flattening the curve
- COVID-19: why is testing important?
- How does COVID-19 affect children?
- COVID-19: how does self-isolation help?
- COVID-19 vs flu
- COVID-19: transmission
- COVID-19: questions answered
Articles
Is flu really that bad in kids this winter?
18 July 2022 What most people don’t know is that flu can make kids very sick, even those who are generally healthy.
Is it legit? Top tips for spotting misinformation
28 June 2022 You’ve probably heard this advice when searching for information about health or science on the internet: ‘Find a reliable source’. But deciding what is reliable is easier said than done in our oversaturated online world. Here are some tips for deciding what and who to trust when you’re looking for scientific information.
Not vaccinated? These are your odds of needing intensive care
24 June 2022 As the pandemic continues, you may wonder why we’re seeing reports of more vaccinated than unvaccinated people in hospital, in intensive care units (ICU), or dying from COVID-19. Given this, how do we know that COVID-19 vaccines help protect us from severe illness and death?.
Winter boosters: what you need to know
Published 24 June 2022, updated 12 July 2022 As the days get colder, the number of COVID-19 cases are expected to rise. To reduce a potential winter peak of COVID-19, an additional vaccine booster dose is recommended for selected groups in Australia who are most vulnerable.
Kids and COVID-19 vaccines: everything you need to know
3 March 2022 The COVID-19 vaccine roll-out has extended to children: parents and caregivers now have the opportunity to protect their children aged 5–11 years with a COVID-19 vaccine designed for kids.
The next steps: COVID-19 vaccine boosters
3 March 2022 When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, staying up to date with your vaccination is an effective way to provide an extra layer of longer lasting protection from the worst effects of COVID-19. These can come in the form of boosters.
Can I get COVID-19 if I am fully vaccinated?
1 February 2022This article clarifies why vaccinated people can still catch COVID-19, how often this is likely to occur, the benefits of natural vs vaccine immunity, and how vaccination is such a valuable tool even with the presence of some breakthrough infections.
Concerned about fertility and erectile dysfunction? Get vaccinated
1 February 2022 During COVID-19, fertility and reproductive health have come to the forefront for some who have questions around vaccine safety. However, the best thing you can do if you are worried about fertility or reproductive health in relation to COVID-19 is to get vaccinated to protect yourself from the worst complications of this disease.
Pregnant? Don’t wait to vaccinate
1 February 2022 Are you pregnant? Just as it’s recommended that you get up-to-date on other vaccines to protect yourself and your family, COVID-19 vaccines are vital during pregnancy.
What is long COVID and how do I avoid it?
29 November 2021 Beyond the devastating death toll and severe illness caused by COVID-19, there can be a lingering legacy of the disease: it’s known as ‘long COVID’. The good news is that getting vaccinated reduces your risk of suffering from long COVID.
COVID-19 vaccines and their long-term safety
8 November 2021 All COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia are very unlikely to cause harm in the long term. In this article, we’ll take a look at why scientists and regulators can be confident in their long-term safety.
COVID-19 vaccines and variants: how do they work?
22 July 2021 What does it mean when scientists talk about a new ‘variant’ of a virus? Why are some variants more concerning than others, and what does that mean for COVID-19 vaccines?
Pregnancies, periods and COVID-19 vaccines: what you need to know
22 July 2021 This article dives into some of the discussions happening around COVID-19 vaccines, fertility and menstruation to sift through the claims and the evidence.
Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine? How to weigh up your risks and benefits
13 July 2021 Understanding both the risks and benefits of vaccination (and how we think about risk) can help you make the right decision for you or your family about having a COVID-19 vaccine.
What we know about the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots
7 May 2021 The AstraZeneca vaccine has been linked to a very rare, but serious, syndrome involving blood clotting and low platelet levels. What makes these rare kinds of blood clots different to other more common types?
Don’t catch my disease
29 July 2020 Zoonotic diseases are those that can be spread between other vertebrate animals and humans. COVID-19, Zika virus and Ebola are just some examples. So how do they spill to humans, and how do we reduce the risk?
What impact will COVID-19 have on the environment?
4 May 2020 COVID-19 has affected our daily lives in an unprecedented range of ways, from physical distancing to travel bans. But the pandemic is also influencing our planet.
Finding a vaccine for COVID-19
16 April 2020 Creating a safe, effective vaccine is a challenge, and in response to the pandemic, scientists have worked as fast as possible.
The mathematics of social distancing
3 April 2020 The more people who physically distance themselves from others, the less the virus can spread from person to person. It is a matter of maths.
Hand sanitiser or soap: making an informed choice for COVID-19
3 April 2020 Most of us can’t isolate ourselves entirely to stop the spread of COVID-19, so good hand hygiene can be the final barrier between us and the disease. When applied to hands thoroughly and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, both soap and alcohol-based hand sanitisers will stop the coronavirus.
Isolation and anxiety: strategies to cope during COVID-19
26 March 2020 Precautions needed to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as isolating yourself from others, may be making you feel anxious and stressed. What can you do to care for your mental health?
Infographics
AstraZeneca vaccine: risk of death is 1 in a million, but what does that mean?
24 August 2021 These two infographics give some perspective to the very low risk of death due to the AstraZeneca vaccine (Vaxzevria). When considering vaccination against COVID-19, it’s important to remember the proven benefits vastly outweigh the really rare risks.
Videos
What causes COVID-19 variants?
1 August 2022
Getting boosted provides greater protection from #Omicron than only having two vaccine doses. All viruses change over time. Omicron is the latest variant. But do you know the difference between a subvariant and a variant?
Your vaccine questions: COVID-19 and children
25 February 2022
This video features Associate Professor Margie Danchin who answers key questions about COVID-19 vaccines for Australian children.
What is long COVID?
12 December 2021
A common outcome of COVID-19 is a condition known as long COVID. Vaccination can help prevent this debilitating illness.
Does vaccination protect everybody?
1 December 2021
Some people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others. Find out why.
Four important questions about COVID-19 with Professor Sharon Lewin
10 November 2021
Do you have friends with questions about Covid? Let Professor Sharon Lewin of the Doherty Institute answer four of the most important.p>
Four important questions about COVID-19 with Professor Brendan Crabb
2 November 2021
While COVID-19 vaccines are new, the research behind them has been around for decades and every COVID-19 vaccine has been tested thoroughly for safety. Here's what you need to know.
Why masks matter
14 August 2021
How do masks help to reduce the transmission of COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccine: Risks and benefits
13 July 2021
What are the risks and benefits for the COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia?
Five important questions about COVID-19
13 July 2021
Professor Peter Collignon answers five important questions about COVID-19 in the Australian context.
COVID-19 vaccine: What you need to know
17 May 2021
Most Australians have been protected from the worst of COVID-19— but this disease can be deadly. Here’s how vaccinations protect individuals and communities in the fight against COVID-19. This video is part of a suite of content supporting our guide, The Science of Immunisation: Questions and Answers.
Vaccine confusion?: Here are the facts.
15 January 2021
Australian Academy of Science President, Professor John Shine clears up any confusion around current COVID-19 vaccines.
How does efficacy differ from safety?
18 January 2021
Academy Fellow and immunologist Professor Carola Vinuesa answers questions on the vaccines that are to become available in Australia.
Why was the University of Queensland vaccine scrapped?
11 December 2020
While the University of Queensland vaccine showed promising results for efficacy and individual safety, it was another public health issue that stopped progress. Academy Fellow, Professor Carola Vinuesa explains.
COVID-19 vaccine: Contenders explained
24 November 2020
Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford? What about the University of Queensland? We asked Professor Ian Frazer about all these new potential COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19: The Latest From Science with Professor Raina MacIntyre #3
8 October 2020
The future of the pandemic “really depends on what kinds of vaccines come out in the end, how effective they are and how quickly they can be scaled up and made accessible worldwide.”
COVID-19: The Latest From Science with Professor Patrick McGorry
10 September 2020 There are grim predictions for rising mental ill-health and suicide rates in Australia due to the pandemic, but how can we reduce this impact? For this episode of the Latest From Science, we talk to Academy Fellow and mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry from Orygen.
COVID-19: The Latest From Science with Professor Jenny Graves
27 August 2020
"The male hormone androgen is linked very strongly to baldness. It looks like having a lot of the male hormone is a risk factor." Biochemical geneticist and Australian Academy of Science Fellow, Professor Jenny Graves, speaks on the links between balding and the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Professor Michael Kidd #2
22 July 2020 "We're living in a world where we currently don't have an effective vaccine against COVID-19. So we all need to remain vigilant and careful." Professor Michael Kidd, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, joins us in this episode of the Latest From Science to explain the current outlook for the pandemic in Australia.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Dr Sam Hinton
10 July 2020 "The human body is not a nice little database with three different columns."
Every country collects COVID-19 data differently, so bringing it all together is a huge effort. Astronomer Dr Sam Hinton from the University of Queensland explains how data gets from the bedside to the website.
Did pangolins start the pandemic?
27 June 2020 Protecting wildlife such as pangolins may have the added benefit of preventing diseases like COVID-19 spreading to humans.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Professor Jodie McVernon
11 June 2020 "While there are any cases, there still is a risk of outbreaks."
Australia is in an enviable position globally, but we still are in a risk environment, Professor Jodie McVernon explains in Episode 22 of the Latest From Science.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Professor Toby Walsh
26 May 2020 "The very first idea that we might be suffering this pandemic came from an AI program."
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in testing, tracing and even treating COVID-19. Hear more from Professor Toby Walsh in this episode all about coronavirus and the computer.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Associate Professor Jill Newby
19 May 2020 "Three in four people say their mental health has been worse since the pandemic has started," says psychologist Associate Professor Jill Newby.
Associate Professor Jill Newby is a Clinical Psychologist at the Black Dog Institute and a leading expert on the technology-based treatment of depression, anxiety and chronic health conditions in adults.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Professor Sharon Lewin
14 May 2020 "We're in a position at the moment where time is absolutely critical," Doherty Institute Director Professor Sharon Lewin AO FAHMS says of COVID-19 vaccines.
She joins us to discuss the latest progress in COVID-19 vaccine development, clinical trials and why both collaboration and competition drive innovation in science.
COVID-19: The Latest from Science with Professor David Karoly
21 May 2020 “There is an opportunity to use this transition, these economic stimulus packages, to rapidly transition to a zero carbon economy around the world and that would then lead to massive long term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”
Climate scientist and Academy Fellow Professor David Karoly explains the impact of the slowed economy during COVID-19 on our climate.
Monitoring wastewater to fight COVID-19
10 May 2020 "Scientists have shown that the virus can already be detected in sewage in the very first stages of a COVID outbreak." Wastewater testing can give health authorities a head start to respond rapidly and limit the spread of the deadly virus.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer #3
5 May 2020 In this episode, Academy Fellow Professor Ian Frazer explains new discoveries in terms of vaccines and treatments, as well as Australia's options on our road to recovery from COVID-19.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor John Shine
30 April 2020 "The only way out for humanity is to apply science," says Professor John Shine, President of the Academy.
Feeling anxious about home schooling?
26 April 2020 Feeling overwhelmed juggling work, home schooling and quarantine? Psychologist Professor Matt Sanders has some great advice to help you out.
COVID-19: The latest from science— Professor Michael Kidd
24 April 2020 "There's been this real sense of community which we haven't seen before in Australia, maybe since war times, with people just being so conscious, and looking after each other." says Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd AM.
COVID-19: The latest from science— Professor Fiona Stanley
22 April 2020 "I think it has exposed our appalling inability to actually improve Aboriginal health outcomes and other outcomes," says Professor Fiona Stanley.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty #3
20 April 2020 "I'm not concerned, at this stage, about high mutation rates," says Professor Peter Doherty.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Raina MacIntyre
17 April 2020 “We can be pretty hopeful that we could achieve elimination” if the number of new cases continues to drop, says Prof Raina MacIntyre.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Carola Vinuesa
16 April 2020 How do we test for COVID-19? Who do we test, and why? How reliable are these tests? Professor Carola Vinuesa from the Centre for Personalised Immunology gives us the full picture.
Calm in anxious times: strategies to cope
13 April 2020 It is not unusual to feel anxious or worried when times are tough. Here's some expert advice from Academy Fellow Professor Richard Bryant on how to care for your mental health.
COVID-19: Why wait for a vaccine?
11 April 2020"Until we have a vaccine, we can't completely control the pandemic," Professor Raina MacIntyre says.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Raina MacIntyre
10 April 2020Has the curve flattened? Physical distancing does seem to be helping slow the spread of COVID-19 but what do the scientific models reveal? Professor Raina MacIntyre walks us through the scenarios.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Dr Asha Bowen
8 April 2020 “Children in daycare centres are safe to be there,” says paediatrician and infectious diseases expert Dr Asha Bowen. This is episode 6 of the Latest From Science series.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty #2
6 April 2020 Is an immunity passport the answer? Or will people take more risks to get infected just so they can return to their normal lives? Academy Fellow Professor Peter Doherty returns with the latest on the pandemic.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer #2
3 April 2020 Should you make your own mask? And how do you isolate someone you live with? These are just two of the questions answered by Professor Ian Frazer in our latest extended interview.
COVID-19: Will stricter social distancing help?
2 April 2020 In an excerpt from the longer interview, Professor Peter Doherty explains how rules around keeping your distance from others should slow the spread of disease.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Eddie Holmes
1 April 2020 ‘I was not at all surprised this happened. We’d been predicting it for a long time.’ Professor Eddie Holmes explains the origins of COVID-19 in this in-depth interview.
COVID-19: What precautions should we take?
31 March 2020 To combat COVID-19 we have to change the way we live, says Professor Raina MacIntyre.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Peter Doherty
30 March 2020 Wondering about the risk of food deliveries during the COVID-19 crisis? And how long before things in Australia return to normal? Nobel Laureate and Academy Fellow Professor Peter Doherty tackles these and many other questions in this in-depth interview.
COVID-19: How many will be infected?
27 March 2020 Professor Ian Frazer answers how many people will be infected by the virus in the long term, and other questions.
COVID-19: The latest from science—Professor Ian Frazer
27 March 2020 Academy Fellow, Professor Ian Frazer, is one of the world’s leading immunologists and co-creator of the HPV vaccine. He’s been keeping a close watch of COVID-19 and shares his expert insights in this longer interview.
COVID-19: Can you get reinfected?
27 March 2020 Professor Raina MacIntyre from UNSW Sydney answers more questions on COVID-19, specifically about reinfection of the virus.
COVID-19: How can we prepare?
26 March 2020 Professor Carola Vinuesa, Co-Director of the Centre for Personalised Immunology at the Australian National University, answers questions about preparing for COVID-19.
COVID-19: when will a vaccine be produced?
20 March 2020 Professor Damian Purcell, Doherty Institute, explains the process of producing a vaccine.
COVID-19: flattening the curve
20 March 2020 Professor Robert Booy, University of Sydney, explains why flattening the curve of COVID-19 infections is important.
COVID-19: why is testing important?
19 March 2020 Professor Raina MacIntyre from UNSW Sydney answers questions on COVID-19 testing.
How does COVID-19 affect children?
18 March 2020 Professor Robert Booy, University of Sydney, talks about COVID-19 and children and pets.
COVID-19: How does self-isolation help?
18 March 2020 Professor Damian Purcell, Doherty Institute, discusses self-isolation to reduce the rate of COVID-19 spread.
COVID-19 vs flu
12 March 2020 Professor Robert Booy, University of Sydney, explains the difference between COVID-19 and the flu.
COVID-19: transmission
8 March 2020 Professor Robert Booy, University of Sydney, explains how the virus is transmitted and what to do if you have possible symptoms. NOTE: The answer about public events has been superseded. See the Department of Health for restrictions on gatherings of people.
COVID-19: Questions answered
1 March 2020 Professor of Global Biosecurity Raina MacIntyre, Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, answers important questions about COVID-19.