Australia is making a giant leap in safeguarding its youngest citizens from respiratory syncytial virus, the leading cause of infant hospitalization. From February 3, pregnant women across the country will be eligible for a free RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, under the National Immunisation Program. This $174.5 million initiative promises to save lives and ease the burden on healthcare systems, particularly during the winter months when RSV cases peak.

RSV is an extremely contagious droplet infection causing mainly respiratory infections among children. It hospitalizes around 12,000 Australian babies every year. Most of these require intensive care. The common symptoms are nasal discharge, fever, cough, wheezing, and breathing difficulty. In most adults and older children, recovery is usually prompt, but it can be fatal for infants.

The head of epidemiology at Deakin University, Catherine Bennett described RSV as "particularly nasty" to small children. They really can't help but battle to breathe well sometimes require ventilators. It may kill them as well. And hence, prevention via vaccination would prove very significant for them.

So, How Does the Vaccine Work?

The RSV vaccine Abrysvo, which is developed by Pfizer, is administered to pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation. It stimulates the mother's immune system to produce RSV-specific antibodies that are passed on to the baby through the placenta. Maternal antibodies offer newborns immediate protection during their most vulnerable months, reducing the risk of severe illness by 70% in the first six months of life.

The vaccine will help in saving more lives, says health experts. The president of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Dr. Michael Wright added, "It will keep the babies safe and save the money of the expectant families. RSV has to be taken very seriously. I would urge all pregnant women to take this vaccine once it's available."

RSV is pervasive, with most children contracting it at least once before their second birthday. The Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report recorded over 172,000 RSV cases in the past year, highlighting the virus’s extensive reach.

Between 2016 and 2019, over 115,000 RSV-related hospitalizations were reported, three-quarters of which involved children under five. Infants under six months are particularly vulnerable due to their underdeveloped immune systems.

Also Read: Postpartum Nutrition Guide: Foods Every New Mom Needs For Recovery And Lactation

Other High-Risk Infants' Options and Alternatives

While Abrysvo protects mother, there exists another preventive care for infants, nirsevimab. Since it is different from a routine vaccine, a monoclonal antibody injection imparts ready made immunities against the RSV attack. It goes well with risky infants or ones whose mothers failed to get themselves vaccinated with an RSV antibody during pregnancy.

As Australian National University infectious diseases specialist Dr. Sanjaya Senanayake explained, "With vaccinations, you're trying to induce immunity, but a monoclonal antibody means you give the ready-made antibodies to that person, so they don't have to make the antibodies for themselves."

Nirsevimab has been integrated into programs in states such as New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, targeting eligible infants based on RSV seasonality. However, its cost-effectiveness has been a point of contention, delaying its inclusion in broader national immunization schemes.

Australia's RSV initiative is a global trend. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has approved the Pfizer RSV vaccine to be administered in pregnant women from 32 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation during the RSV season, which typically falls between September and January. The vaccine introduction has greatly decreased infant hospitalization in regions where immunization programs are well set up.

Should You Get Vaccine During Pregnancy?

Extensive studies have been conducted about the safety of RSV vaccines in pregnant women. Data from clinical research involving nearly 4,000 pregnant women show that vaccination is safe. Although more vaccinated mothers experienced premature births (2.1% compared to the 1.9% rate in the control group), researchers believe the difference is statistically insignificant.

The vaccine has already been approved by regulatory bodies in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, with post-market surveillance confirming its efficacy and safety.

Despite vaccination, RSV remains difficult to control because of its high transmissibility. The virus spreads quickly through coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated surfaces, making it hard to prevent within households and childcare settings. Basic hygiene measures such as handwashing and covering one's mouth when sneezing can help, but vaccination remains the most effective strategy to curb severe infections. Impact of the RSV Vaccination

Health Minister Mark Butler has described the introduction of the RSV vaccine as a "game-changer" for maternal and infant health. The program is expected to reduce infant hospitalizations by up to 10,000 annually, easing the strain on healthcare systems and providing peace of mind to families.

"This program will significantly relieve pressured hospitals during difficult winter months and reduce the distress for parents who have to see their newborns hospitalized due to RSV," Butler said.

What Pregnant Women Need to Know About RSV Vaccination

Pregnant women are advised to talk to the health care professionals about RSV vaccination. The National Immunisation Programme has made it available free to all eligible mothers, as a result of it being free for all eligible mothers.

For pregnant women who might miss the shot during pregnancy, it is well recommended that the newborn be sought for nirsevimab vaccination from a pediatrician.

The landmark move in introducing free RSV vaccines for pregnant women in Australia would save thousands of infant lives annually. It equips newborns with maternal antibodies to provide a lifeline to vulnerable babies during their earliest months of life.

Such programs highlight the significance of vaccination for public health and how RSV cases continue to burden families and healthcare systems. This is a good opportunity for pregnant women to protect their babies as they begin life with the best defense against RSV.

Perinatal Outcomes After RSV Vaccination During Pregnancy—Addressing Emerging Concerns. JAMA Netw Open. 2024

In many new things, there has been a groundbreaking new tool developed by the scientists of Ankara University (AU) in Turkey. This tool promises to detect lung cancer in its early stages. The best part? The tool uses nothing more than just your voice. This AI-powered application is used to analyze speech patterns in order to identify structural changes caused by the diseases. This is a great way of testing, as it is non-invasive in nature, thus is a low-cost method of screening for such a deadly disease.

Detecting Through Speech

The project is being led by Associate Professor Dr Haydar Ankishan of AU's Stem Cell Institute. The idea centered to the research was: changes in a person's voice could reflect anatomical or functional disruption in the lungs, especially those caused by cancer.

“In our study, we considered the structure of the voice, the anatomical structure of the lungs, and the circulatory system,” Ankışhan said at a press conference held at AU’s Ibn-i Sina Hospital. “We proposed that the voice could provide information about lung cancer.”

The study took a span of 18 months, with the team being able to develop a system that can detect stage-one lung cancer with an accuracy rate exceeding 90%.

How Does This Work?

The technology is able to capture a person's voice in a natural environment. Then the voice is processed using advanced signal analysis techniques and machine learning. The AI model is trained on these audio samples to differentiate between healthy individuals and those with early-stage lung cancer.

Faculty member of AU's Faculty of Medicine, who is also a key contributor in the study, Dr Bülent Mustafa Yenigün emphasized the importance of such early detection. “The later lung cancer is diagnosed, the harder it becomes to treat. We aimed for a method that’s non-invasive, low-cost, and doesn’t expose patients to harmful radiation,” he explained.

If one has to understand the science behind it, then one must understand what the AI listens for. The science behind this method is actually rooted in how tumors affect airflow and resonance in the lungs. As masses form, they can disrupt the natural vibrations and frequencies that are part of normal speech. Thus, the AI is trained to detect these variations, regardless of how subtle they may be. Many of these variations, in fact, may not be noticeable to the human ear.

“Our application identifies deviations in frequency and sound resonance that can indicate a pathological mass in the lungs,” Yenigün explained.

Is It Accessible?

The researchers are optimistic about the future. If legal approvals are secured and larger datasets are collected, they estimate that the technology could be integrated into standard lung cancer screening programs within two to three years. In a best-case scenario, it could be available in as little as one to two years.

If successful, this voice-based screening tool could become a revolutionary step in early cancer detection—accessible, painless, and potentially life-saving.

What Is Lung Cancer?

As per the NHS UK, Lung Cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer, which has affected more than 43,000 people in UK, annually.

In many cases there are no symptoms, however, you must look out for these:

• a persistent cough
• coughing up blood
• persistent breathlessness
• unexplained tiredness and weight loss
• an ache or pain when breathing or coughing

When cancer begins in the lungs, it is referred to as primary lung cancer. In contrast, if cancer originates elsewhere in the body and spreads to the lungs, it is known as secondary lung cancer. This explanation focuses specifically on primary lung cancer.

Primary lung cancer is broadly categorized based on the type of cells where the cancer develops. The two main types are:

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): This is the most common form, making up about 80–85% of all cases. NSCLC includes three subtypes:

• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Adenocarcinoma
• Large-cell carcinoma

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC): Less common than NSCLC, this type tends to grow and spread more quickly.

Understanding the type of lung cancer is essential for determining the appropriate treatment approach.

A new study titled The Global Flourishing Study, conducted by researchers from Baylor and Harvard universities have thrown light on the meaning of "flourishing" and how it does not mean being happy. The study has looked at how some countries are doing significantly better in terms of the broader sense of well-being than other countries. The study is based on responses from over 207,000 participants across 22 countries and Hong Kong. The study also assessed six core aspects of flourishing, which includes happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial stability.

What Does Being "Flourished" Really Mean?

While there are traditional happiness indexes that measures an individual's or a group's subjective well-being or happiness, the study about being "flourished" includes not just how happy people feel, but also their health. The study looks at whether people are leading a healthy life, whether they are mentally well and feel like they do have a purpose in life. The study also takes in account for strong relationships, acting with character and feeling financially secure.

The participants of this study were asked to respond to 12 key questions. They were aimed at measuring these components. The questions varied from "How satisfied are you with life?" to "Do you worry about meeting monthly expenses?"

Dr. Byron Johnson of Baylor University, who led the study, said the scale of the research is what makes it especially unique. “We are following 207,000 participants around the world in over 40 languages. This gives a voice to approximately 64% of the world’s population,” he explained.

Indonesia Leads, But Traditionally 'Happy' Nations Lag

The results too have been unexpected, unlike what we seen in the happiness indexes. Countries which were often seen as happy in global rankings did not perform as well when it came to flourishing. Indonesia, however, topped the list, followed by Mexico and the Philippines. However, nations like Sweden and the United States, which are usually high ranking in the World Happiness Report, were found to be average in terms of flourishing.

Interestingly, some of the most flourishing countries, such as Nigeria and Indonesia, did not make it to the top 20 in the World Happiness Report, indicating a crucial distinction between simple happiness and a deeper sense of well-being.

Youth Is Struggling

One of the most concerning findings of the study was that flourishing tends to increase with age. According to Dr. Tyler VanderWeele of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, young people across most countries reported the lowest levels of flourishing, often citing a lack of purpose.

"In most countries, the youngest individuals are the ones struggling the most,” VanderWeele noted. However, there were exceptions—Tanzania and Poland showed relatively better flourishing scores among their younger populations.

The researchers suggest that in more developed countries, increased competition, job stress, and social comparison may be contributing to this generational dip. “Young people are telling us something is wrong,” added Felix Cheung, a co-author of a separate study in the World Happiness Report.

Rich, Not Flourishing

While wealthier countries usually scored higher in the financial security section, they lacked in the sections where they were asked questions on meaning and relationships.

This gap has raised questions about modern development. “How can we carry out economic growth without compromising meaning and relationships?” VanderWeele asked.

In contrast, countries with fewer economic resources but stronger community bonds and clearer cultural or spiritual values often performed better on overall flourishing metrics.

According to researchers, people can take active steps to improve their own flourishing. VanderWeele shared how one participant, after reflecting on the study’s 12 questions, decided to volunteer to find greater purpose. “Flourishing can be guided by reflection,” he said.

Still, systemic issues like conflict, inequality, and poor governance remain significant barriers. As Cheung summed it up: “When one person is unhappy, that’s an individual issue. But when a population isn’t happy, that’s a structural problem—and it requires structural solutions.”

A new ketamine-like nasal spray will soon be available at a subsidised cost in Australia to help thousands living with treatment-resistant depression. The medication, called Spravato (esketamine), has been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), marking a significant shift in how the country approaches difficult-to-treat mental health conditions.

What Is Esketamine and How Does It Work?

Esketamine is chemically related to ketamine, a well-known anaesthetic that gained notoriety for recreational use in rave culture. However, in controlled medical settings, this compound is offering new hope for patients who have not responded to traditional antidepressants.

Unlike older medications that target serotonin – a “feel-good” chemical in the brain – esketamine works on a different neurotransmitter called glutamate. This chemical is believed to play a key role in restoring neural connections that influence mood regulation. The result is often a much faster response, with some patients feeling relief within hours instead of weeks or months.

Why It Matters: A Breakthrough After Decades

Esketamine is the first government-funded drug for major depression in over 30 years that works via a new mechanism. While most antidepressants developed since the 1980s have focused on serotonin or other monoamines, esketamine offers an alternative path by targeting glutamate and related brain circuits.

For those who have tried multiple medications without success, this drug represents a long-awaited option. Clinical trials in Australia show that nearly 50% of patients with treatment-resistant depression reported significant improvement after using esketamine.

Who Can Access It and What Will It Cost?

Starting Thursday, up to 30,000 Australians will be able to access Spravato through the PBS. Patients will pay $31.60 per dose, or $7.70 for pensioners and concession card holders. However, this does not include additional healthcare and administrative fees. Because of safety requirements, the drug must be administered under supervision at certified treatment centres, which will add to the overall cost.

Despite these extra expenses, making esketamine available through PBS is expected to reduce financial barriers and give more Australians access to potentially life-changing care.

Why Esketamine Stands Out

Since receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019, esketamine has been used in hospitals and clinics across America, particularly in emergency care for severe depression. Unlike some drugs that sedate or numb emotions, esketamine is reported to alleviate core depressive symptoms — including intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts — without dulling awareness.

Mental health experts say this rapid effect can be life-saving in critical cases where waiting for standard medications to take effect is not an option.

A Step Forward After Long Delays

The inclusion of Spravato in the PBS comes after a four-year wait and four separate funding submissions. The listing is seen as a major win for mental health advocates and patients who have pushed for broader access to advanced treatments.

While it may not work for everyone, esketamine opens a new chapter in treating depression — one focused on faster, more targeted relief for those who need it most.