An Australia first trial of a needle-free COVID vaccine has begun.
The trial is taking place on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, with the vaccine being tested in the form of applied patches.
Brisbane-based biomedical company, Vaxxas teamed up with the University of the Sunshine Coast for the clinical study.
The patch is small and plastic, covered in a layer of micro-projections which penetrate the top layer of skin, acting as a high-density vaccine delivery system.
The patch is left on the skin for approximately two minutes, but researchers say they are hoping to reduce that time to around ten seconds.
Further participants are being sought to take part in the trial, with researchers hoping to make the vaccine patch available by 2025.
An Australia first trial of a needle-free COVID vaccine has begun.
The trial is taking place on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, with the vaccine being tested in the form of applied patches.
Brisbane-based biomedical company, Vaxxas teamed up with the University of the Sunshine Coast for the clinical study.
The patch is small and plastic, covered in a layer of micro-projections which penetrate the top layer of skin, acting as a high-density vaccine delivery system.
The patch is left on the skin for approximately two minutes, but researchers say they are hoping to reduce that time to around ten seconds.
Further participants are being sought to take part in the trial, with researchers hoping to make the vaccine patch available by 2025.
Rules for if you test positive for COVID
While isolation is no longer required if you test positive for COVID, each state and territory has guidelines on what to do if registering a positive result.
In Victoria, the Department of Health recommends at least five days of isolation, until symptoms have cleared.
This includes not going to work, school or shopping.
The Department also says that for at least seven days after testing positive, wear a face mask if you are required to leave isolation for an emergency.
Positive Rapid Antigen test results should be reported with the Department of Health online or by calling 1800 675 398.
Getting Up-To-Date with Covid vaccinations
Health authorities continue to emphasise the importance of getting up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
The relaxation of restrictions means that the COVID virus, which is still circulating in the community, will continue to have an impact.
The best way to protect family and the community and help boost individual immunity, is to be get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Vaccinations continue to be available from most GPs or pharmacies.
Australian average life expectancy jumps to third
Australia has risen to third in the world for average life expectancy.
New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that average life expectancy for Australians now only ranks behind Japan and Monaco.
The ABS director of demography, Emily Walter, said it is the highest-ranking Australia has achieved.
The figures show that life expectancy for females is 85 years and 81 years for males.
However, there is still a large gap from these figures to the life expectancy of indigenous Australians.
According to the 2020 Closing the Gap report, life expectancy measured at birth was 8.6 years less for Indigenous males and 7.8 years for Indigenous females.
(NEMBC Multilingual News Service, Victoria)
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