Author Archives: Science Media Centre
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
expert reaction to lab study looking at respiratory cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the presence or absence of rhinovirus infection
A lab study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that infection with human rhinovirus, the virus that causes … read more
expert reaction to estimate of lives saved in the UK and globally by dexamethasone, from NHS England
NHS England have published a press release stating that, since its discovery as an effective treatment for COVID-19, dexamethasone has … read more
expert reaction to comments reported in the media from Boris Johnson about a third wave in Europe
Discussing the effects of a third wave in Europe, the Prime Minister told reporters that “…previous experience has taught us that … read more
expert reaction to press release from AstraZeneca announcing interim data on safety and efficacy from the US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
AstraZeneca has published a press release announcing that the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine US Phase III trial met primary efficacy endpoint … read more
expert reaction to analysis for meat consumption and dementia
A cohort study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looks at meat consumption and risk of incident dementia. … read more
expert comment on news that half UK adults have reportedly received their first vaccine dose
A comment from Dr Jeremy Farrar on news that half of the adult population in the UK have received their … read more
expert reaction to latest data from the ONS Infection Survey and the latest R number and growth rates published by the government
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey, and the government have released the … read more