Author Archives: Science Media Centre
Q&A with Oxford scientists on new preprint on the vaccine and the B.1.1.7 ‘Kent’ coronavirus variant strain
The University of Oxford have posted a preprint looking at preliminary findings of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the B.1.1.7 ‘Kent’ … 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 study of climate change, bats and SARS-CoV-2
A study published in Science of the Total Environment looks at the emergence of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, climate change and … read more
expert reaction to study looking at effects of gout drug colchicine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19
A study published in RMD Open looks at the effects of adding colchicine, a drug usually used to treat gout, … read more
expert reaction to study looking at povidone iodine mouthwash, gargle, and nasal spray and viral load in patients with non-severe COVID-19 symptoms
A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery looks at whether nasopharyngeal application of povidone iodine is … read more
expert reaction to non-peer reviewed modelling presented on a dashboard suggesting that herd immunity may be reached in the UK in July if the vaccination programme stays on track
The summary dashboard, based on modelling at University College London (UCL), suggests herd immunity may be reached in the UK … read more
expert reaction to preprint reanalysing study of real-world Pfizer vaccination outcomes after one dose from Israel
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, estimates the effectiveness of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after one dose by reanalysing … read more
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