Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to study looking at air pollution, physical exercise and cardiovascular disease in young adults
A study published in European Heart Journal looks at air pollution levels, physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease in … read more
expert reaction to ONS release on COVID-19 vaccination rates in people aged 70 years and over by socio-demographic characteristic, England: 8 December 2020 to 11 March 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released data on the the first dose COVID-19 vaccination rates among people aged … read more
expert reaction to preprint on COVID infections in care home residents following a single vaccine dose
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at the effectiveness of a single dose of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates estimates, as published by the government
The government have published the latest estimates for the COVID-19 R number and growth rates. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … read more
expert comment on today’s legal decision that parents can consent on behalf of their children to take puberty blockers
A comment from Professor Dominic Wilkinson on the news that the High Court has ruled that parents can consent to … 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. Dr Simon Clarke, … read more
expert reaction to preprint looking at immune response after a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in those with and without prior infection with SARS-CoV-2
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at the T-cell and antibody response to the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech … read more
preprint on the immune response after the first dose of Pfizer vaccine in those with and without prior infection
A new preprint from researchers at the universities of Sheffield, Oxford, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham looks at the T-cell and … read more
expert reaction to data on the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on mortality in England, as published on gov.uk
Analysis carried out by Public Health England (PHE) suggests that COVID-19 vaccines have prevented thousands of deaths in those aged … read more
ethnicity in STEM higher education
People from Black backgrounds in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) higher education in the UK have poorer degree outcomes … read more
expert reaction to press release from AstraZeneca announcing primary data on safety and efficacy from the US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
AstraZeneca have published a press release stating that the primary analysis of the Phase III trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine … read more
expert reaction to Matt Hancock’s announcement of a new health agency – UK Health Security Agency
Matt Hancock has announced a new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that will lead protection against future health threats. … read more
expert comments on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children
A Telegraph exclusive article reported on discussions around children in the UK being offered COVID-19 vaccines in summer. A spokesperson … read more
expert reaction to updated Cochrane review of studies on accuracy of rapid tests (including lateral flow and molecular tests) to detect SARS-CoV-2
An updated Cochrane Review, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, assesses the use of rapid, point-of-care antigen and … read more
updated Cochrane review on accuracy of rapid tests (including lateral flow tests and molecular tests) for detecting COVID-19
Cochrane has published an updated systematic review of studies assessing rapid tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The review … read more
post-hospitalisation COVID-19 (PHOSP-COVID) study: a national consortium to understand and improve long-term health outcomes
The impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental health, functional status and employment following hospitalisation is poorly understood. This briefing … read more
expert reaction to New York variant B.1.526 having been sequenced three times in the UK, according to PANGO lineages
It has been reported that three cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in New York have been found in … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS data on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 12 March 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 NIAID statement on the DSMB expressing concern about information released by AstraZeneca on initial data from its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial in the US
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released a statement that the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) … read more
the COVID decade: What are the long-term societal impacts of COVID-19?
The British Academy was asked by the Government Office for Science to produce an independent review on the long-term societal … read more