Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to today’s COVID-19 case numbers
According to the DHSC COVID-19 Dashboard, 2,427 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK today. Prof Paul … read more
expert reaction to U.S. FDA authorising Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in adolescents
It has been announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the emergency use authorization for the … read more
expert reaction to study looking at using machine learning and AI to identify which clinical parameters predict responses in critically ill COVID-19 patients
A study published in Intensive Care Medicine looks at the use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods to predict outcomes of … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths involving COVID-19 in the care sector in England and Wales
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional figures on deaths registered involving COVID-19 during wave one (week ending 20 March … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 30 April 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the … read more
expert reaction to two preprints looking at real-world data on the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines in protecting against death and hospitalisation from COVID-19
Two preprints, unpublished non-peer reviewed studies, by Public Health England (PHE), look at the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech … read more
expert reaction to UK COVID-19 alert level moving down to alert level 3
The government has announced that the UK COVID-19 alert level is moving from Level 4 to Level 3. Dr … read more
Q&A on B.1.617.2 variant of concern
Journalists joined this 30 minute Q&A to put their questions to experts about B.1.617.2. There were not any presentations, this … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS Infection Survey
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor … read more
expert reaction to VUI-21APR-02/B.1.617.2 being classified by PHE as a variant of concern
Public Health England (PHE) have announced that, following a rise in cases in the UK and evidence of community transmission, … read more
Q&A with vaccine safety and thrombosis experts
Like the last time advice was issued on the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, we gathered a vaccine safety expert … read more
expert reaction to ONS report on excess deaths registered in England and Wales in 2020
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released an analysis of deaths registered in 2020 in England and Wales, and … read more
expert reaction to JCVI advice of a preference for adults aged 30 to 39 to receive an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and MHRA response
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued advice to the UK government on the use of the … read more
expert reaction to study looking at sugary drinks intake and incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer among women
An observational study published in Gut looks at sugar-sweetened beverage intake in adulthood and adolescence and risk of early-onset colorectal … read more
expert reaction to the Global Methane Report
The Global Methane Report has been published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Prof Myles Allen, Professor of … read more
expert reaction to study looking at sex-specific impact of obesity on outcomes for hospitalised COVID-19 patients
A study published in European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases looks at sex-specific impact of severe obesity on … read more
how should genetically altered food be regulated?
In January, Defra launched a public consultation on the regulation of genetic technologies in the UK. The government is expected … read more
expert reaction to ONS figures for quarterly alcohol-specific deaths in England and Wales
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released data on quarterly alcohol-specific deaths in England and Wales: 2001 to 2019 registrations … read more
expert reaction to Biden administration support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines
The U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement today announcing the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for waiving intellectual property (IP) … read more
expert reaction to study from Denmark and Norway looking at rare blood clots after the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
A study published in the BMJ looks at arterial events, venous thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding after vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca … read more