The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian paediatric population

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Archana Koirala (Staff Specialist at the National Centre for Immunisation Research, Clinical Associate Lecturer, University of Sydney) led a team of researchers to track and understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission within schools and early learning centres.

Working with researchers from NCIRS, NSW Health and NSW Department of Education, Dr Koirala and her colleagues found that transmission rates in educational settings were much lower than in others such as households and recreational facilities.

This work provided critical real-time data to policy makers and empowered them to keep schools open during times of COVID-19 community transmission, reinforcing the use of mitigation measures and vaccination to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Watch Dr Koirala discuss her work.

Dr Koirala is a member of ASID’s Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group (ANZPID) and Vaccination Special Interest Group (VACSIG).

Dr Koirala was honoured in the Sax Institute’s annual Research Action Awards in November 2022.  The Awards recognise researchers whose work has made a significant impact on health policy, programs or service delivery.