Author Archives: Science Media Centre
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rates, as published by the government
The government have released the latest estimates for the COVID-19 R value 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
criteria for an effective vaccine passport
There is much domestic and international debate about the prospect of vaccine passports that could allow travel or resuming pre-COVID … read more
expert reaction to Correspondence article on data from Israel on infections in healthcare workers after first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
A letter published in the Lancet looks at data from Israel on SARS-CoV-2 infections in healthcare workers after receiving the … read more
expert reaction to announcement of UK government plans for the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA)
It has been announced that the UK government will launch a new research agency, the Advanced Research & Invention Agency … read more
expert reaction to study estimating years of life lost globally to COVID-19
A study published in Scientific Reports estimates that over 20.5 million years of life may have been lost due to … read more
expert reaction to two NEJM Correspondence articles on in vitro studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and different variants/mutations including mutations on the South Africa variant
Two letters have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on the neutralising ability of Pfizer-BioNTech and … read more
latest interim results from the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 prevalence across England
This briefing covered the latest interim data from the largest community coronavirus testing programme, REACT. This batch of data is … read more
expert reaction to preprint giving the interim results from round 9 of the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 prevalence in England
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, reports on the latest data from the REACT-1 study on COVID-19 spread across … read more
expert reaction to study looking at UK death rate and hospital admissions due to food-induced anaphylaxis
A study published in the BMJ looks at UK death rate and hospital admissions for food-induced anaphylaxis over a 20-year … read more
expert reaction to ethical approval for a virus characterisation study for COVID-19 to begin, as part of the Human Challenge Programme
It has been announced that the UK will be the first country in the world to run a COVID-19 human challenge … read more
ethical approval and the start of virus characterisation study for Human Challenge Trials
The first question that needs to be addressed when carrying out human challenge trials is to work out the minimum … read more
expert reaction to preprint modelling the impact of reopening schools in England on SARS-CoV-2 transmission
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, uses weekly contact survey data to estimate the impact of reopening schools on … read more
expert reaction to latest antibody data from the ONS Infection Survey
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey on antibodies. Prof Sheila … read more
expert reaction to ONS stats on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 5 February 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 qualitative study on pubs and whether SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks can be minimised
An interview and observation study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs looks at managing COVID-19 transmission … read more
expert reaction to preprint on schools and absences due to COVID-19 between September and December 2020
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at school absences in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Roundup accompanied … read more
new preprint on schools and COVID-19 spread
Scientists at the University of Warwick have done some research looking at data on school absences due to COVID-19 infection … read more
expert reaction to preprint on calcifediol (vitamin D metabolite) treatment and COVID-19-related outcomes, data from Barcelona
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, looks at calcifediol treatment and COVID-19-related outcomes in Barcelona. Prof Naveed Sattar, … read more
expert reaction to trial on dietary flavanols and cognition
A trial published in Scientific Reports looks at increased flavanol intake and performance on memory tests reflective of long-term, episodic … read more