Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to comments made by Nadhim Zahawi that there are 4,000 variants of SARS-CoV-2
Speaking to reporters, Health Minister Nadhim Zahawi stated that there are “about 4,000 variants around the world of Covid now.” … read more
launch of a study looking at COVID-19 heterologous prime-boost vaccination
Today is the launch of a study run by the National Immunisation Schedule Evaluation Consortium (NISEC) and backed by the … read more
expert reaction to launch of COVID-19 alternating dose vaccine study (heterologous prime-boost vaccination) in the UK, the Com-COV study
A clinical trial looking into alternating COVID-19 vaccine doses, the Comparing COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule Combinations (Com-COV) study, has launched today in … read more
expert reaction to announcement that 10 million people in UK have received their first vaccine dose
More than 10 million people in the UK have now received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Professor Robert … read more
expert reaction to preprint from Oxford looking at immunogenicity and efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine with a 3-month gap between doses, and looking at whether data says anything about transmission
The University of Oxford have posted a preprint, an unpublished non peer reviewed paper, looking at the immunogenicity and efficacy … read more
results of UK Biobank study on how long antibodies remain post SARS-CoV-2 infection
Researchers from UK Biobank will this week report results of a major government-backed study of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study measured … read more
expert reaction to two preprints looking at a single dose of mRNA vaccines in those who have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2
Two preprints, unpublished non-peer reviewed studies, look at giving a single dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to those who have … read more
expert reaction to two preprints looking at the B1.1.7 variant and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine
Two preprints, unpublished non-peer reviewed studies, look at the Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine, the B.1.1.7 variant, and the E484K mutation. Dr … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on 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 study looking at preliminary efficacy and safety results from interim analysis of Russian COVID-19 phase 3 vaccine (Sputnik) trial
The preliminary efficacy and safety results from the interim analysis of the Russian COVID-19 phase III vaccine trial have been … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 22 January 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 document from PHE about the B.1.1.7 variant, including reference to detection of the E484K mutation in some B.1.1.7 genomes
A paper published yesterday by Public Health England (PHE) on the investigation of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.7, mentions on … read more
expert reaction to the Dasgupta review on the economics of biodiversity
The review from Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta sets out the ways in which we should account for nature in economics … read more
expert reaction to news reports that ‘surge testing’ is to be rolled out in areas of the UK after cases of the ‘South African variant’ were found with no known links to travel or previous cases
Media reports state that urgent COVID-19 testing is to be rolled out in parts of England after several people with … read more
expert reaction to media reports of comments made by President Macron about the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
President Macron reportedly said earlier today of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine “We’re waiting for the EMA results, but today everything points … read more
expert reaction to document published by SAGE entitled ‘Direct and Indirect Impacts of COVID-19 on Excess Deaths and Morbidity: December 2020 Update – Executive Summary’
A new document was published today as part of the SAGE evidence publication, entitled ‘Direct and Indirect Impacts of COVID-19 … read more
expert reaction to the latest COVID-19 Nowcast and Forecast, by the MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge
The MRC Biostatistics Unit at the University of Cambridge have released their latest nowcast and forecast of COVID-19. Prof … read more
expert reaction to EMA recommending the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine for authorisation in the EU
The European Medicine Agency (EMA) has recommended the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine for authorisation in the EU for use in people … read more
results of the Phase III trial for single-shot Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
This afternoon, Johnson & Johnson announced top line results from the Company’s global Phase 3 ENSEMBLE trial designed to evaluate … read more
expert reaction to Johnson & Johnson announcing that the single-shot Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate met primary endpoints in the interim analysis of its phase 3 ENSEMBLE Trial
Johnson & Johnson have announced topline efficacy and safety data from the Phase III ENSEMBLE clinical trial for their single-shot … read more