An examination of Australian newspaper coverage of the link between alcohol and cancer 2005 to 2013.

Background: Alcohol is a Class-1 carcinogen but public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer is low. The news media is a popular, readily-accessible source of health information and plays a key role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy-makers. Examination of how the link between alcohol and cancer is presented in Australian print media could inform public health advocacy efforts to raise awareness of this modifiable cancer risk factor.

The immunisation cold chain. Why is it so hard to get right?

Background: Although the standards for vaccine storage required for accreditation of general practices, and the Guidelines for Australian Immunisation are widely available, all research to date suggests that in Australia compliance with these standards has not been readily achieved.

Objective: The New South Wales Central West Division of General Practice (NSWCWDGP) and the Public Health Unit of the New South Wales Mid Western Area Health Service (NSW MWAHS) worked together from 1999 to 2001 to produce an intervention that would gather information about current vaccine storage, and provide practical help to storage sites which were not complying with accepted standards.

Discussion: Cooperation between a general practice division and the public health unit can deliver coverage of 100% of vaccinators in a large geographic region.