A new vaccine developed to treat the latest outbreak of ebolavirus is already being tested on humans. But the organisation behind it has also invested in three others, in case the trials aren't successful.

So what else goes on behind the scenes to achieve this when time is of the essence?

Guest/s

• Professor Jane Halton, Chair CEPI 

References

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation

Less than one third of general practices provide medical abortion in Australia, with access and support influenced by geographic location and socio-economic status.

Despite the fact that medications are available on the PBS, those who live in a rural or remote area may still have to travel to find a GP who provides the service.

Guest/s

• Luke Grzeskowiak, Associate Professor, Flinders University 

References

• Longitudinal trends and characteristics of medication abortion provision in Australian general practice: a national open-cohort study using Medicine Insight, 2014 to 2021

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

In the news:

• After earlier announcing the withdrawal of a certain dose of a breast cancer medicine from the Australian market, the drug company has now offered to supply it to eligible patients for free, rather than drop the price for the PBS.
• A new report shows young people are paying more in out of pocket costs for mental health treatment than their older counterparts.
• A study from the Kirby Institute's GoGovax trial shows the vaccine for meningococcal B does not protect against gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men.

References

• Update on access to goserelin 3.6 mg implant
• Cost of accessing mental health services for young people
• New England Journal of Medicine: Meningococcal B Vaccine to Prevent Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection
• More than 11,500 cyclosporiasis cases reported in 41 states: CDC 

Parents of younger children and early adolescents can face pressure to allow them their own smart phone, with concerns around mental health effects and sleep disruption. 

A new study looks at what happens when you delay giving a child a smartphone by one year.

Guest/s

• Dr. Ran Barzilay, Child Adolescent psychiatrist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania 

References

• Smartphone Acquisition and Use at Age 13 Years and Health Outcomes at Age 14 Years

You may have seen people wearing a small white disk on their upper arm. It's likely it was a "CGM" or continuous glucose monitoring device.

In Australia, only people with type 1 diabetes can access subsidies for these devices, but there is hope this may be extended in the future.

Research comparing the use of these devices, with self-monitoring of glucose levels, strengthens the case for use of CGM devices for people living with type 2 diabetes.

Guest/s

• Associate Prof Emma Wilmot, University of Nottingham School of Medicine 

References

• Continuous glucose monitoring versus self-monitoring of blood glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, multicentre, open-label, superiority trial
• Diabetes Australia statement

There is now clear evidence that having high blood pressure as a child can influence health outcomes later in life.

The first ever Australian clinical guidelines on this condition recommend a check of blood pressure at age 7 and again during adolescence.  

Guest/s

• Nick Larkins, paediatric nephrologist, Perth Children's Hospital and Senior Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University 

References

• Australian Guideline for the Identification and Management of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.

You can email us at [email protected]

In the news:

• The same team who developed the first vaccine against COVID-19 have come up with a vaccine for the new strain of Ebola in only eight weeks.
• A report from the Grattan Institute calls for a shake-up of community pharmacy funding
• US Department of War head Pete Hegseth announces plans for testosterone screening for military

References

• UK begins trials of Ebola vaccine developed in just eight weeks
• Future pharmacy: A better deal for patients and taxpayers
• Pete Hegseth announces plan to test US troops for low testosterone

There's a race going on in Silicon Valley to find ways to both slow down ageing and monetise longevity.

Some of the tools used to measure this are biological age tests that give various health readings. 

For an episode of Four Corners, Norman Swan visited one of the team who developed an evidence-based clock called DunedinPACE.

Guest/s

• Dan Belsky, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University 

References

• Four Corners: The Race to Reverse Aging