A coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University appears to be safe and prompts an immune response, raising hopes about the distribution of a vaccine in the coming months. The Oxford team published the results of its vaccine trials in the medical journal the Lancet.
The Guardian has stopped publishing weekly Pacific Island updates. However, here is a link to one of the writers' weekly blog.
The governments of Fiji and Samoa have reiterated that even though the impacts of Covid-19 are severe, climate change remains the No 1 challenge in the Pacific islands region. ANZGITA Chair, Finlay Macrae, published a paper recently addressing this issue. You can read it here.
The Guardian has stopped publishing weekly Pacific Island updates. However, here is a link to one of the writers' weekly blog.
The governments of Fiji and Samoa have reiterated that even though the impacts of Covid-19 are severe, climate change remains the No 1 challenge in the Pacific islands region. ANZGITA Chair, Finlay Macrae, published a paper recently addressing this issue. You can read it here.
COVID Information & Resources
World Health Organization COVID 19 Tracker Latest information, health guidance and resources.
World Gastroenterology Organisation COVID 19 Resources for our Global Community For resources and research papers.
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Quick look tracking of live statistics on case numbers by country.
Australian Department of Health COVID Daily Updates Current information, latest case numbers and useful related information.
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 'Covid-19 and the Digestive System, May 2020'
MyInteract COVID-19 Connection You will need to create an account if you are not already using MyInteract.
Australian Government COVID Safe Tracking App Download the tracking app from this site.
CDC - Center for Disease Control COVID Information For disease control and background.
The Guardian Weekly COVID Update For interesting newspaper articles, reporting and latest information by island.
www.radiologyacrossborders.org/ For resources, Pacific information and background on how COVID affects a related healthcare profession.
World Gastroenterology Organisation COVID 19 Resources for our Global Community For resources and research papers.
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Quick look tracking of live statistics on case numbers by country.
Australian Department of Health COVID Daily Updates Current information, latest case numbers and useful related information.
Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 'Covid-19 and the Digestive System, May 2020'
MyInteract COVID-19 Connection You will need to create an account if you are not already using MyInteract.
Australian Government COVID Safe Tracking App Download the tracking app from this site.
CDC - Center for Disease Control COVID Information For disease control and background.
The Guardian Weekly COVID Update For interesting newspaper articles, reporting and latest information by island.
www.radiologyacrossborders.org/ For resources, Pacific information and background on how COVID affects a related healthcare profession.
ANZGITA COVID Education Webinar Program
View our education webinar program on the topic, conducted in conjunction with the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center,
University of Hawaii by ANZGITA Director, Assoc Prof Chris Hair. Please email Chris for further details.
WEBINAR #6 - Friday, 21 August 2020
University of Hawaii by ANZGITA Director, Assoc Prof Chris Hair. Please email Chris for further details.
WEBINAR #6 - Friday, 21 August 2020
WEBINAR #5 - Friday, 17 July 2020 View Vimeo Session here
TOPICS: 'Foreign body ingestion cases' and 'Approach to removal of foreign body; chilldren'
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Case Presentations: Dr Mai Ling Perman, Fiji National University, CWMH, Suva, Fiji
Guest Faculty: Professor Michael Schultz, Fiji National University, Department of Medicine
WEBINAR #4 - Friday, 19 June 2020 View Vimeo Session here
TOPIC: 'COVID-19 Positive Patient Flow Through Hospital and Theatre'
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Guest Faculty: Joji Malani, Associate Professor of Medicine, Fiji National University
TOPICS: 'Foreign body ingestion cases' and 'Approach to removal of foreign body; chilldren'
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Case Presentations: Dr Mai Ling Perman, Fiji National University, CWMH, Suva, Fiji
Guest Faculty: Professor Michael Schultz, Fiji National University, Department of Medicine
WEBINAR #4 - Friday, 19 June 2020 View Vimeo Session here
TOPIC: 'COVID-19 Positive Patient Flow Through Hospital and Theatre'
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Guest Faculty: Joji Malani, Associate Professor of Medicine, Fiji National University
WEBINAR #3 - Friday, May 22nd 1:00 PM View Vimeo Session here
TOPIC: "Outbreak Management in Small Island Nations - Perspectives from Guam"
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
SPECIAL GUEST FACULTY
Stephanie Kern-Allely - Guam's Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist's Applied Epidemiology Fellow
Thane Hancock MD MPH - LCDR U.S. Public Health Service, Career Epidemiology Field Officer: U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, Field Services Branch, Division of State and Local Readiness Center for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Pacific Islands Health Officers Association
Dr Meru Sheel - Global health research and infectious diseases epidemiologist with interest in health emergencies, emerging infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases.
WEBINAR #2 - Friday, 17 April, 1:00 PM View Vimeo Session here
TOPIC: "COVID-19 - Approaching Challenges and Clinical Responses for Healthcare Workers in Pacific Island Nations"
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Follow-up RESOURCES from Professor Maclntyre provided below:
Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Covid-19: Should cloth masks be used by healthcare workers as a last resort?
COVID-19 key research papers and resources
SPECIAL GUEST FACULTY
Professor Raina Maclntyre - NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Professor of Global Biosecurity and PLuS Alliance Fellow. She heads the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, which conducts research in epidemiology, vaccinology, bioterrorism prevention, mathematical modelling, public health and clinical trials in infectious diseases. Her work falls under 4 areas: Personal Protective equipment, vaccinology, Epidemic response and emerging infectious diseases, biosecurity.
Dr Meru Sheel - Global health research and infectious diseases epidemiologist with interest in health emergencies, emerging infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr Adam Jenney - Adjunct Professor Medicine, FNU; Infectious disease physician, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Colin Banks - Chair, ACEM Global Emergency Care Committee, Emergency Medicine Physician, Townsville, Queensland; collaboration with Pacific Island Nations Emergency response teams including host online PI nation forum for general support and coordinated response.
WEBINAR #1 - Friday, 20 March 2020 VIMEO link available here. Recorded session available here.
TOPIC: "COVID-19 and PI Nations: How and What Do We Need to Prepare For?"
In lieu of the Gastroenterology Training Session, this week was a lecture based on COVID-19. The session ended in a Q&A session with various participating Pacific Island nations in attendance.
TOPIC: "Outbreak Management in Small Island Nations - Perspectives from Guam"
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
SPECIAL GUEST FACULTY
Stephanie Kern-Allely - Guam's Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist's Applied Epidemiology Fellow
Thane Hancock MD MPH - LCDR U.S. Public Health Service, Career Epidemiology Field Officer: U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, Field Services Branch, Division of State and Local Readiness Center for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Pacific Islands Health Officers Association
Dr Meru Sheel - Global health research and infectious diseases epidemiologist with interest in health emergencies, emerging infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases.
WEBINAR #2 - Friday, 17 April, 1:00 PM View Vimeo Session here
TOPIC: "COVID-19 - Approaching Challenges and Clinical Responses for Healthcare Workers in Pacific Island Nations"
MODERATOR: Associate Professor Chris Hair, MBBS, BSc, FRACP, & ANZGITA Director & South Pacific Programs Lead
Follow-up RESOURCES from Professor Maclntyre provided below:
Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Covid-19: Should cloth masks be used by healthcare workers as a last resort?
COVID-19 key research papers and resources
SPECIAL GUEST FACULTY
Professor Raina Maclntyre - NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Professor of Global Biosecurity and PLuS Alliance Fellow. She heads the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, which conducts research in epidemiology, vaccinology, bioterrorism prevention, mathematical modelling, public health and clinical trials in infectious diseases. Her work falls under 4 areas: Personal Protective equipment, vaccinology, Epidemic response and emerging infectious diseases, biosecurity.
Dr Meru Sheel - Global health research and infectious diseases epidemiologist with interest in health emergencies, emerging infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr Adam Jenney - Adjunct Professor Medicine, FNU; Infectious disease physician, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Dr Colin Banks - Chair, ACEM Global Emergency Care Committee, Emergency Medicine Physician, Townsville, Queensland; collaboration with Pacific Island Nations Emergency response teams including host online PI nation forum for general support and coordinated response.
WEBINAR #1 - Friday, 20 March 2020 VIMEO link available here. Recorded session available here.
TOPIC: "COVID-19 and PI Nations: How and What Do We Need to Prepare For?"
In lieu of the Gastroenterology Training Session, this week was a lecture based on COVID-19. The session ended in a Q&A session with various participating Pacific Island nations in attendance.