COVID myth-busting: The vaccination edition

With COVID vaccination roll-outs underway around the world, questions remain about the details, particularly in WA. It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction: What’s the difference between vaccines and their benefits and risks? What’s the timeline for vaccination roll-out in WA? Can you have the vaccine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding? How effective are different vaccine combinations? Can I still contract COVID-19 if I’ve had the vaccines? Will they protect me from all the strains? Is it likely that vaccinations will be extended to older children?
 
To clarify what the evidence says, does not say, and is unclear about, the UWA Public Policy Institute is hosting a public 'Ask the experts' webinar dedicated to the most pressing community questions. During this Q&A-based virtual event, our experts in public health, immunology and policy will provide the latest facts and evidence to help the public make informed decisions in navigating the COVID vaccine landscape. 

You'll hear from and ask questions of:

• Dr Katie Attwell, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences. Katie leads the interdisciplinary Western Australian project 'Coronavax: Preparing Community and Government', which engages in community and government research in readiness for a vaccine roll-out for COVID-19, funded by Wesfarmers and the Health Department of Western Australia. 
• Associate Professor Christopher Blyth is Associate Professor of Paediatrics (School of Medicine, University of Western Australia) and co-director of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases (WCVID; Telethon Kids Institute). His research focuses on influenza, vaccine-preventable respiratory tract infection and pneumonia. In addition to his professional appointments, he is Co-Chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, the peak scientific immunisation advisory committee to the commonwealth government, co-chair of the ATAGI Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines and a member of the COVID-19 Vaccines & Treatment for Australia Science & Industry Technical Advisory Group.
• Dr Melinda Boss is a pharmacist who joined UWA in 2010 to follow her passion for improving the breastfeeding experience for mothers and infants. Melinda’s research aims to support effective lactation through the translation of research to practice. Her research achievements include the websites LactaPedia, an internationally collaborative glossary of lactation terminology for science and medicine and LactaMap, an online lactation care support system. Melinda was recognised for her work in early nutrition by the Pharmaceutical Association of Australia as Western Australia’s Pharmacist of the Year in 2019. She is also a member of the global COVID-19 Infant Feeding Research Interest Group convened by the National Institutes of Health.
• Associate Professor Archa Fox, senior lecturer in the School of Human Sciences and the School of Molecular Sciences at UWA, and an affiliate investigator with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Archa studied at the University of NSW and University of Sydney and was awarded her PhD in the year 2000 on a project supervised by Professor Merlin Crossley. She then moved to Dundee, UK, supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship to work with world-renowned scientist Professor Angus Lamond. Archa has an international reputation as a pioneer in the field of paraspeckle research and long noncoding RNA biology, leading to invitations to write seminal reviews and organise key symposia. She has been the recipient of the Marshall Medal of the Harry Perkins Institute in 2012, and the emerging leader award of the Australian/NZ Society of Cell and Developmental Biology in 2017.
• Dr Barbara Nattabi is a senior lecturer in the School of Population and Global Health. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries (University of London) and a PhD in International Health. Previously she worked at the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (2010-2019) where she held a NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship (2014-2018). Prior to that, Barbara worked as a medical doctor and public health researcher for over seven years’ with rural disadvantaged and marginalized populations in post conflict Northern Uganda. Barbara is interested in the epidemiology, prevention and control of communicable diseases particularly among disadvantaged communities including Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

Webinar details

Tuesday 20 July, 5:30 - 6:45pm
Watch and ask questions online through Zoom

Register here