Delta variant now makes up 99 per cent of new Covid cases in UK June 18, 2021 The Delta variant now accounts for 99 per cent of new Covid-19 cases in the UK, according to the latest Public Health England data. In the week to June 14, Britain reported another steep rise in new cases of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India. The latest PHE data showed the variant [...]
CureVac shares plunge after Covid vaccine falls short in clinical trial June 17, 2021 The German biotech lost more than half its value after a preliminary analysis of late-stage trials found its Covid-19 vaccine was only 47 per cent effective. CureVac’s disappointing mRNA vaccine trial results call into question its future contribution to the global vaccination effort. The interim analysis of the jab’s trials found that it was one [...]
Covid-19 cases surge in England, driven by unvaccinated young June 17, 2021 The coronavirus pandemic grew “exponentially” at the beginning of the month, driven by younger age groups who had not yet received the vaccine, according to a study published today. Researchers for the Real-time Assessment of Community Transmission (REACT) study looked at data from the period 20 May to 7 June, which showed the prevalence of [...]
‘Confident’ in vaccine supplies: Health department denies reports of Pfizer shortage June 16, 2021 The Department of Health has denied reports of supply shortages of the Pfizer vaccine as the Covid jab rollout extends to over-21s, after the government delayed “Freedom Day” by four weeks to vaccinate more people. “We are confident in our vaccine supplies as we rollout to younger age groups,” a spokesperson for the Department of [...]
Covid jab rollout slows due to Pfizer shortage, as reopening delayed to vaccinate more people June 16, 2021 Supply shortages of the Pfizer vaccine have forced the NHS to slow down its Covid jab rollout, despite the government delaying “Freedom Day” by four weeks in order to accelerate the vaccination programme. Just 1.2 million first doses were dispensed in the last week, compared with more than three million a week in March. The [...]
Covid vaccines to become compulsory for care home staff in England June 16, 2021 Boris Johnson is backing compulsory vaccine measures, while ministers consider extending them to all NHS staff. Coronavirus vaccinations are to be legally required for care home staff who work with elderly and vulnerable people, under plans to be announced by ministers today. The government is also considering extending the policy to all NHS staff – [...]
All adults in England will be able to book Covid-19 vaccine ‘by end of this week’ June 15, 2021 NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has revealed that all over-18s should be able to book their Covid-19 jab “by the end of this week.” “I expect that by the end of this week, we’ll be able to open up the National Booking Service to all adults age 18 and above,” Stevens said, adding that [...]
Michael Gove says only ‘unprecedented and remarkable’ Covid-19 change would delay 19 July ‘terminus date’ June 15, 2021 Michael Gove said 19 July is the absolute “terminus date” for ending England’s remaining coronavirus restrictions, and only an “unprecedented and remarkable” change would push it back further. The Cabinet Office minister’s comments came the morning after Boris Johnson announced a delay of four weeks to so-called “Freedom Day”, the fourth and final step of [...]
Goldman Sachs UK staff under pressure to reveal vaccine status June 14, 2021 Goldman Sachs has sent a memo to its UK staff that “strongly encouraged” them to report their Covid-19 vaccination status, ahead of a return to the office. The investment bank has has been conducting a voluntary survey amongst staff based at its Plumtree Court headquarters in London since the end of May, when employees were [...]
G7 coronavirus vaccine pledge: how far does it stretch? June 11, 2021 Leaders of the G7 countries will unveil a pledge to donate 1bn coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations at the 2021 summit in Cornwall. The pledge is part of a plan to “vaccinate the world” by the end of 2022, after western governments faced mounting pressure to do more to help the poorest countries in the [...]