Listen to 4BC Afternoons with Sofie Formica, weekdays from Midday - 3pm.

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The University of Queensland came close to creating the first COVID-19 vaccine, and now the team is creating a new vaccine in 150 days. 

Team Leader of UQ's Vaccine Response Team, Professor Keith Chappell, told Dean Miller on 4BC Drive, "So I guess we're putting ourselves to the test."

"We were given an exemplar virus 60 days ago, and we're now just over two or just two months into pretending that we're in an outbreak and seeing if we can make a vaccine," Professor Chappell continued. 

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Listen to 4BC Afternoons with Sofie Formica, weekdays from Midday - 3pm.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese has announced an $8.5 billion Medicare plan so Australians will pay less for doctor's appointments. 

However, there has been some pushback from GPs and medical professionals due to financial pressures. 

Founder of CleanBill James Gillespie told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons, "The key thing that we're looking at is whether these clinics decide to continue to charge patients an out-of-pocket costs, or whether they decide to switch to the bulk billing incentive."

"Where you've seen the contention there, is that the bulk billing incentive figures don't hit the average out of pocket costs that are currently charged by GP clinics."

"So a lot of GP clinics in certain areas would have to take an economic hit in order to accept that incentive instead," Mr Gillespie continued. 

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Australia is going crazy over the rise of Queensland sprint sensation Gout Gout.

Over the weekend, he recorded the fastest ever run on Australian soil, clocking 19.84 seconds for 200m. 

Movement specialist at Flinders University, Dr Dylan Hicks, joined Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons to discuss why Gout Gout's running style is so successful. 

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Listen to 4BC Afternoons with Sofie Formica, weekdays from Midday - 3pm.

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Research published last year investigated the locations of vape stores in Western Australia and found that one-in-three was within 500 metres of a school. 

Member for Cooper Jonty Bush has started a petition calling on the Brisbane City Council to introduce exclusion zones around schools to prohibit the sale of vapes, tobacco, and e-cigarettes. 

Ms Bush told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons, "I would say almost every school now has got a vape shop operating within a five-minute walk to them."

"We're doing all this work in trying to better regulate and drive the uptake down. But yet, we're seeing increasing numbers of young people that are picking up vapes and tobacco products. So, it's obviously not enough."

"There's opportunities to do more work. I think it's a common sense approach and I'd love to see council explore it," Ms Bush continued. 

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Listen to 4BC Afternoons with Sofie Formica, weekdays from Midday - 3pm.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Dunny Hunt is on once again, with Continence Health Australia calling on all Aussies to map our country’s public toilets.

The Hunt kicks off today and runs all the way through until Sunday the 11th of May, to coincide with World Continence Week.

Chief Executive of Continence Health Australia, Jim Cooper, told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons, "There's over 3.2 million people access the app every year."

"We're there to provide services to make sure that there's health outcomes for Australians with continence issues," Mr Cooper continued. 

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Last week, Health Minister Tim Nicholls restricted Opposition Health Minister Mark Bailey's access to Queensland's hospitals. 

Health Minister Tim Nicholls told Sofie Formica on 4BC Afternoons, "I've been quite clear to Mr. Bailey he's welcome to attend and he's welcome to apply to attend, give the requisite notice."

"And if it suits the clinical needs of the hospital, they are the decision makers in this respect."

"Then, yes, he can go in, but I'm not having patients' health and safety put at risk to give a politician a rubbernecking tour through the hospitals," Minister Nicholls continued. 

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