Julie recently recorded this talk that she prepared for an update with the NSW Ministry of Health on the question of whether the pandemic has increased child vaccination hesitancy.
#WeAreSydneyID
Recently our SABII co-leads, Professor Julie Leask and Dr Kerrie Wiley, took part in a series of researcher videos with Sydney ID – the Sydney Infectious Disease Institute.
This is Julie’s video about vaccine uptake research:
This is Kerrie’s video about her research into how people think and feel about vaccinating humans and animals:
Take a look at the other researcher videos here to find out about the amazing work Sydney ID researchers are doing.
Conference season!
A large chunk of the SABII team were away over the last fortnight to attend conferences.
Julie headed to Bangkok to present at VARN2023 – the Vaccine Acceptance Research Network’s 2023 conference. Julie joined a plenary panel discussion titled “Challenges of Online & Offline Circulating Misinformation Relating to Zero-Dose Children and Vaccine Introduction“. The other panellists were Adidja Amani, from the WHO Regional Office for Africa; Ana Bottallo, journalist from Brazil; Farah Naz Qamar, Associate Professor from Pakistan; and Joe Smyser, CEO of The Public Good Projects.
Last week was the annual CDIC 2023 (Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference) in Perth, Western Australia.
Recent SABII Activities
Last week, instead of our usual team meeting, the SABII crew were all busy typing away on our laptops. We organised a half-day writing retreat (a.k.a. ‘Shut Up and Write’ morning) where we all worked on a current writing project without interruption. We smashed out several pomodoros and by all accounts, we were very productive. Go team! We’ve got another writing session lined up for next month.
When we’re not working hard, you can often find us sharing a meal or coffee on campus. Here we are a couple of weeks ago, celebrating Kerrie’s ‘Maker and Shaper’ award. Congratulations again, Kerrie! Very well deserved.
Congratulations Addy and Kerrie!
The SABII team sends a big congratulations to Adeline Tinessia, who graduated last week with a Master of Global Health. Congratulations, Addy! We’re glad to have you on the team.
We would also like to acknowledge Dr Kerrie Wiley who has been awarded a Faculty of Medicine and Health “Makers and Shapers” award for Outstanding Research (individual) category. Key achievements noted in Kerrie’s nomination include:
- Making an integral contribution to the development of the Behavioural and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) tools to help countries assess the drivers of low vaccination uptake and act on them, and in particular the qualitative interview guides and work on training and implementation.
- Lead writer of the Global Health Security Network policy report on the Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Strategies to Increase Vaccination Rates, launched by the Dean of the Harvard SPH Michelle Williams. Said report commissioner Adam Kamradt-Scott: “Words cannot express. This is really quite brilliant. Thank you!! It is an absolute pleasure to read, very informative, with exceptional use of empirical data and case studies to highlight and drive home your key messages.”
- Awarded an NHMRC investigator grant in 2022 and co-leading SABII.
What a fantastic recognition of all your achievements. Well done, Kerrie!!
Workshop with refugee community leaders
SABII team members have been running vaccination workshops with refugee community leaders via the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). The workshops cover COVID-19, influenza, vaccinations, and skills for having vaccination conversations in your community.
Global vaccination in 2023 – where we are at, and what is ahead?
Julie visited Seoul to attend the Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum. Read Julie’s reflections on the forum here.
Cosmos Magazine
Julie Leask was interviewed by Cosmos Magazine about newly released Victorian data about COVID-19 measures in schools. COVID-19 schools data reveal: Unreleased Victorian data and analysis on masks, RATs and cases
COVID booster rate lagging
Julie was interviewed by Sarah Sedghi about COVID-19 booster vaccination rates on ABC Radio.