Author Archives: Science Media Centre
genetic links to critical illness caused by COVID-19 identified
Researchers have studied 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19, comparing their genetic make up to a control group, to see … read more
expert reaction to AstraZeneca announcing clinical trial programme to assess combination of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the Sputnik V vaccine
AstraZeneca have announced a clinical trial programme to assess safety and immunogenicity of a combination of AZD1222, developed by AstraZeneca … read more
expert reaction to latest R number and growth rate estimates published by the government
The government have released the latest estimates for the COVID-19 growth rate and R value. Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus … read more
expert reaction to latest ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey data
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 phase 3 results for the Pfizer/ BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
The results of the phase 3 clinical trials of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine candidate have been published in NEJM. … read more
expert reaction to period of self-isolation for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus to be shortened from 14 to 10 days across the UK from Monday
Starting from Monday 14 December, the self-isolation period for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus will be reduced from 14 … read more
expert reaction to Sanofi and GSK delaying their adjuvanted recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine programme due to insufficient immune response in older adults
Sanofi and GSK have announced a delay in their adjuvanted recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine programme to improve immune response in … read more
The Global Carbon Budget 2020
The annual update on global carbon emissions and carbon sinks has been released by The Global Carbon Project. The report … read more
expert reaction to The Global Carbon Budget 2020
The Global Carbon Project 2020, the annual update on global carbon emissions and carbon sinks, has been released and is … read more
expert reaction to Matt Hancock’s announcement of mass testing in secondary schools in worst affected parts of London, Essex and Kent
Matt Hancock announced at a 10 Downing Street Press conference that mass coronavirus testing is to start immediately for secondary … read more
expert reaction to study looking at asthma and asthma medications in pregnancy and premature births, stillbirths and birth weights in babies
A population cohort analysis published in PLOS ONE looks at whether prescriptions for asthma medications, whether continued or discontinued during … read more
expert comment about Scotland’s second wave of COVID-19 deaths
A comment from Professor Sheila Bird on the situation in Scotland. Prof Sheila Bird, Formerly Programme Leader, MRC Biostatistics … read more
expert reaction to reports of allergic reaction in two healthcare workers who had a history of serious allergies and who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
There have been news reports of 2 NHS workers having allergic reactions in response to the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. … read more
expert reaction to the 6th carbon budget, as published by the Climate Change Committee (CCC)
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) have published their advice to Government for decarbonising the UK with the 6th Carbon Budget. … read more
expert reaction to longitudinal study of depression symptoms in children during the COVID-19 lockdown
A study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood looks at longitudinal increases in childhood depression symptoms during COVID-19 lockdown. … read more
Lancet publication of the Oxford AstraZeneca phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial
We recently heard the interim high-level results from phase 3 clinical trials of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the … read more
expert reaction to a study on the results of phase 3 human trials of the Oxford/AZ COVID-19 vaccine
The results of the phase 3 clinical trials of the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate have been published in The … read more
expert reaction to ONS data on deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 27 November
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released provisional counts of the number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the … read more
launch of progress report of Vaccine Taskforce
This morning the government published a new report on the workings of the Vaccine Taskforce (VTF). Six months after it … read more
expert reaction to a pre-print looking at population-wide, rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Slovakia
A preprint, an unpublished non-peer reviewed study, posted on medRxiv looks at the effectiveness of population-wide rapid antigen test based screening in … read more