Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to CDC and FDA statement recommending a pause in the use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine in the US, and J&J deciding to proactively delay the rollout of the vaccine in Europe
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have released a joint statement … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 2 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 papers looking at the transmissibility and severity of the B.1.1.7 variant
Two observational studies, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and The Lancet Public Health, suggest that the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 … read more
results from the PRINCIPLE trial on inhaled budesonide in COVID-19 patients in the community
PRINCIPLE is a phase 3 randomised controlled trial assessing potential COVID-19 treatments in community settings (non-hospitalised people). The scientists running … read more
expert reaction to preprint from the PRINCIPLE trial giving interim results on inhaled budesonide as a treatment in people at higher risk of adverse outcomes in the community
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study from the PRINCIPLE trial, looks at the use of budesonide, a common corticosteroid, … read more
expert reaction to meeting highlights from the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 6-9 April 2021
Meeting highlights from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) safety committee, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), have been published, including … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates estimates, 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 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 ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 26 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 the latest fortnightly release on the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey looking at characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 in the UK, 8 April 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest report from the COVID-19 infection survey, looking at characteristics of people … read more
expert reaction to non-peer reviewed modelling presented on a dashboard suggesting that ‘a herd immunity threshold (of 73.4%) will be reached this week on 9 April 2021’
The prediction, based on modelling at University College London (UCL), was reported on by the Telegraph this morning. Prof … read more
latest results from the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 prevalence across England
The REACT-1 team from Imperial College London has now completed round 10 of their study looking at virus prevalence across … read more
Q&A with vaccine safety and thrombosis experts
We gathered two vaccine safety experts and one thrombosis/haematology expert to sit on a panel and answer journalists’ questions about … read more
expert reaction to statements from MHRA and EMA in relation to the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots and low blood platelets
Medicines regulatory bodies in the UK and Europe, the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and European Medicines Agency … read more
expert reaction to Met Office statement on record high levels of atmospheric CO2
The Met Office have published the latest assessment of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, finding record high levels despite reduced emissions … read more
expert reaction to observational study looking at neurological and psychiatric outcomes 6 months after COVID-19
An observational study published in The Lancet Psychiatry looks at 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in survivors of COVID-19. This … read more
neurological and mental health problems in COVID-19 survivors
Researchers have conducted the largest observational study to date looking at the presence of neurological and mental health conditions 6 … read more
expert reaction to press release from Valneva reporting phase 1 and 2 data of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Valneva have published a press release reporting positive phase 1/2 data for its inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001. … read more
expert reaction to ongoing uncertainty around Oxford-AstraZenca COVID-19 vaccine and clotting
Several reports mention comments made by the European Medicines Agency’s head of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, who told an Italian … read more
expert reaction to latest weekly summary of Yellow Card reporting following COVID-19 vaccination published by the MHRA, including updated numbers of CVST and other thrombosis events with low platelets
The latest weekly summary of Yellow Card reporting has been published by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), … read more