A vaccination program for pregnant women will help protect their newborn babies from deadly whooping cough as part of the Queensland Government’s new immunisation strategy. [ + ]

The success of the pharmacist-delivered flu immunisation trial in Queensland has led to the Queensland Government extending the pilot to cover other vaccinations including measles and whooping cough for adults. [ + ]

Research led by the University of Adelaide has provided new insights into how the HIV virus greatly boosts its chances of spreading infection, and why HIV is so hard to combat. [ + ]

The elderly and those with chronic conditions are those most likely to be affected by the Federal government's proposal to introduce co-payments for  medications and services provided by GPs, pathology and imaging providers, according to a new University of Sydney study. [ + ]

In 2012-13, an estimated 312,539 Australians accessed disability support services, although there was a drop in growth, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). [ + ]

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) has joined the AMA and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia in opposing the trial of in-store health checks being made available at select Woolworths' stores across NSW and QLD. [ + ]

[caption id="attachment_8461" align="alignright" width="161"] Grant Kardachi[/caption] Moves to provide health checks to consumers within the supermarket environment have been criticised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. National President of the PSA, Grant Kardachi, said Woolworths had stated it was hiring final year pharmacy students, graduating pharmacists and nurses to conduct health checks such as blood pressure and cholesterol in their stores. [ + ]

Research by the University of Sydney has found that older Australians are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for too long and without sufficient precautions to minimise harmful side-effects. [ + ]

[caption id="attachment_8602" align="alignright" width="200"] Dr Christine Dennis[/caption] [ + ]

Dental decay is a chronic disease. Dentists have always known it. Now the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has confirmed it in their report: Australia’s Health 2014. [ + ]

Aged & Community Services Australia is growing increasingly concerned the Coalition Government will pull funding for aged care programs after it suddenly ceased funding the Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement. [ + ]

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has expressed concern that the COAG Reform Council responsible for monitoring progress towards close the gap targets will close on 30 June. [ + ]

The COAG Reform Council’s final report card shows that governments need to strengthen efforts to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. [ + ]

Dr Pat Nicholson PhD, RN, RM, has been involved in perioperative nursing for more than 30 years. Dr Nicholson discusses the evidence behind reducing, reusing or recycling in the perioperative setting. [ + ]

A  first of its kind study among Aboriginal Australians has found a simple non-surgical gum disease treatment markedly reduces the thickness of the wall of the arteries, a risk factor for heart disease. [ + ]