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Science Media Centre NZ
Our aim is to promote accurate, evidence-based reporting on science and technology by helping the media work more closely with the scientific community.
The Science Media Centre is New Zealand's only trusted, independent source of information for the media on all issues related to science. Thousands of news stories providing context from and quoting New Zealand researchers have been published as a direct result of our work.
Science Media Centre NZ - Latest News [Page 17]
The Plan To Keep Omicron Away From NZ Over Summer - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 21 December 2021, 4:19 pm | Science Media Centre
The government has announced changes to booster jabs, quarantine stays, and the border in an effort to keep Omicron out of the country. Covid-19 vaccine booster doses can now be booked four months after the second jab, down from six months ... More >>
Two New Vaccine Rollouts Lie Ahead - Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 21 December 2021, 10:25 am | Science Media Centre
New frontiers in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout are opening up – vaccinating 5-11 year olds, and giving booster doses to protect against Omicron. Cabinet will announce today whether to shorten the six-month wait for the third Pfizer dose to ... More >>
Second ‘probable’ Death From Covid-19 Vaccine In NZ – Expert Reaction
Monday, 20 December 2021, 5:24 pm | Science Media Centre
A 26-year-old man who died after his Covid-19 vaccine suffered myocarditis, a rare side effect of the jab, according to preliminary information. The Covid-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board said the heart inflammation condition ... More >>
The Rapid Rise Of Omicron – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 16 December 2021, 2:15 pm | Science Media Centre
The WHO has warned the Omicron Covid-19 variant is spreading at an “unprecedented rate” after being reported in 77 countries. Each day researchers are learning more about Omicron, with the WHO saying it is likely to outpace Delta . Early studies ... More >>
Covid-19 Testing Through The Traffic Light Summer – Expert Reaction
Tuesday, 14 December 2021, 12:27 pm | Science Media Centre
Will the nation’s Covid-19 testing be able to keep up with Aucklanders leaving the city tomorrow, and much of the country spending New Year’s Eve in ‘Orange’? Rapid antigen tests will allow non-symptomatic people to get tested at pharmacies, ... More >>
Smoking To Be Outlawed For Future Generations – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 9 December 2021, 3:04 pm | Science Media Centre
The just-launched Smokefree 2025 Action Plan says people aged 14 when a new law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco, with the age rising each year. The changes will mean only tobacco products with very low levels of nicotine ... More >>
Preliminary Results From Pfizer/BioNTech Suggest A Third Booster Dose May Be Able To Stop The Omicron Variant.
Thursday, 9 December 2021, 9:43 am | Science Media Centre
According to their press release, people who had received a booster jab neutralised the Omicron variant to levels comparable to those observed for earlier variants after two doses. The SMC asked experts to comment on the press release announcement. Lesley ... More >>
Booster Jab Shows Promise Against Omicron – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 9 December 2021, 9:08 am | Science Media Centre
Preliminary lab results from Pfizer/BioNTech suggest a third booster dose of their mRNA vaccine may be able to stop the Omicron variant in its tracks. According to their press release, people who had received a booster jab neutralised the Omicron ... More >>
Preparing For A Covid Summer – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 8 December 2021, 1:44 pm | Science Media Centre
The country is preparing for another major shift in how it manages COVID-19, with Auckland able to interact with the rest of the country in a week’s time. What might it look like when Auckland’s domestic boundary lifts next week and – given ... More >>
Previous Covid-19 Infection May Not Protect Against Omicron – Expert Reaction
Friday, 3 December 2021, 5:04 pm | Science Media Centre
Early research from South Africa suggests the Omicron variant may carry a higher reinfection risk compared to the Beta and Delta variants. Researchers looked at the data of almost three million South Africans who were previously infected with Covid-19 ... More >>
Will Current Vaccines Work Against Omicron? – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 1 December 2021, 6:08 pm | Science Media Centre
Current vaccines may not work as well against the Omicron variant than for earlier strains of the coronavirus, according to recent comments made by Moderna’s chief executive. The Financial Times reported on comments made by Stéphane Bancel questioning ... More >>
Covid-19 Vaccine For Kids Expected Early Next Year – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 1 December 2021, 5:52 pm | Science Media Centre
The Government anticipates rolling out the paediatric version of the Pfizer vaccine by the end of January 2022, pending Medsafe approval. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said this afternoon that officials were “well advanced” in planning ... More >>
Preparing To Enter The Traffic Light System – Expert Reaction
Wednesday, 1 December 2021, 5:37 pm | Science Media Centre
How can New Zealanders make good decisions to lower risk and keep safe when we enter the new Traffic Light framework on Friday? The SMC asked experts to share the latest on how public health measures can help to keep the coronavirus at ... More >>
‘Orange’ And ‘Red’ Covid-19 Settings Across The Country – Expert Reaction
Monday, 29 November 2021, 8:22 pm | Science Media Centre
Swathes of the North Island will enter the most restrictive setting in the country’s new Covid-19 protection framework, taking effect on Friday. Northland, Auckland, and parts of the central and eastern North Island will go into the ‘Red’ setting, ... More >>
Home-based Care For COVID-19 Patients – Expert Reaction
Friday, 26 November 2021, 11:08 am | Science Media Centre
At present, more than 1500 people with COVID-19 are isolating at home in New Zealand. Almost half of them have not been given pulse oximeters , used to monitor oxygen levels and signal when hospital treatment may be needed. The US and UK are looking ... More >>
Which COVID Rapid Tests Are Best? – Expert Reaction
Friday, 26 November 2021, 9:21 am | Science Media Centre
A Kiwi research team has weighed up rapid testing choices. Rapid antigen tests may miss up to 44% of cases – but this can be partly offset with more frequent testing, and appropriate use. Standard PCR tests take hours in the lab to confirm a result. ... More >>
What Does The Traffic-light Model Mean? – Expert Q&A
Wednesday, 24 November 2021, 9:00 am | Science Media Centre
All of Aotearoa will move to the COVID-19 Protection Framework from Friday 3 December. The alert levels will be swapped for three traffic-light settings, intended to manage COVID-19 in the community. Yet in a recent poll, 2 in 3 Kiwis said they didn’t ... More >>
Rheumatic Fever Vaccine On The Cards – Expert Reaction
Friday, 19 November 2021, 3:48 pm | Science Media Centre
Preventing rheumatic fever may become within reach, as $10 million is secured to support design of a vaccine. University of Auckland researchers will lead studies into the strep-throat vaccine’s development next year. Rheumatic fever ... More >>
Superbugs In The Covid Era – Expert Q&A
Thursday, 18 November 2021, 11:41 am | Science Media Centre
Drug resistance is one of the top ten global health threats named by the World Health Organization for 2021. In the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown what happens when infectious diseases spread before powerful treatments are developed. ... More >>
Auckland Border To Open For Summer – Expert Reaction
Thursday, 18 November 2021, 9:58 am | Science Media Centre
People may leave or enter Auckland from 15 December – if fully-vaccinated or cleared by a pre-departure test. Jacinda Ardern also confirmed the rest of the country will join Auckland in moving to the traffic-light system at the same time – soon after ... More >>
