National Covid-19 antibody surveillance programme launched by government August 22, 2021 A nation-wide antibody surveillance programme for the public has been launched by the UK Health Security Agency to collect data to build the government’s understanding of immunity against Covid-19. The government today announced that free home antibody tests kits will be offered to adults in the UK who test positive for the virus from Tuesday. [...]
Study finds vaccinated can carry high Delta viral load, but scientists urge people to keep getting the jabs August 19, 2021 Scientists have found that fully vaccinated people carry the same level of Covid-19 as the unvaccinated in a potential blow to the efficacy of the jabs. Previous studies had shown that vaccinated people who caught the Alpha variant carried far lower viral loads than those who had not been vaccinated. However, a study from the [...]
Annual Covid-19 boosters may become a reality, says Moderna co-founder August 18, 2021 With governments around the world debating whether to authorise Covid-19 vaccine booster doses, Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan envisions a time when the shot could become routine. “Public health officials are going to have to decide if everybody should get a booster shot,” he said in an interview on Bloomberg TV today. “My guess is that [...]
Qantas says all staff must be vaccinated as Sydney endures its eighth week of lockdown August 18, 2021 Amid rising case numbers owing to the Delta variant in Australia, Qantas have said that all of its employees must be vaccinated against Covid-19. The airline giant is the latest in a long line of firms to implement mandatory vaccinations for its staff. Frontline workers including pilots, cabin crew and airport staff must be fully [...]
Vaccine race: Chile leads, Spain overtakes UK and one-third of world gets first dose August 6, 2021 Just under a third of the world’s population has received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine so far in the global immunisation drive, forming part of some 4.3bn jabs distributed, the latest data reveals. Around 15.2 per cent of the world has been fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, but only 1.1 per [...]
Vanguard’s US staff get $1,000 vaccine bonus: Will it come to the UK? August 5, 2021 Vanguard is to pay $1,000 to each of its 16,500 US staff should they prove they are fully vaccinated by October. The bonus includes those who were jabbed prior to the company making the generous offer. However, the offer will not be extended to employees of the asset management firm in Europe, it was announced. [...]
Barbie doll created of Oxford Covid vaccine designer Dame Sarah Gilbert August 4, 2021 Barbie maker Mattel has created a doll in honour of Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, the scientist who designed the Oxford-Astrazeneca Covid vaccine. After a standing ovation at Wimbledon and being made a dame, Gilbert now has the Barbie doll to recognise her efforts in creating a life-saving jab. The vaccinologist said she initially found the [...]
EU eyes pandemic exit with 70 per cent of population administered first dose August 3, 2021 Despite protests against coronavirus restrictions rocking the streets of Paris and Berlin last weekend, the EU’s quiet move towards an exit from the pandemic continues apace. The European Union surpassed its target of injecting at least one jab into the arms of 70 per cent of its population by the end of July. And according [...]
Fancy a Covid jab? Here are all the free walk-in vaccine sites open in London this week August 2, 2021 While every adult can now book their coronavirus vaccine online, there are still sites that accept walk-ins for those eligible. Some sites and times are only for those aged 40 or over, so be sure to check your eligibility. Find your closest site! The full list across London and their eligibility: Based in the South [...]
Quarantine lifted for double-jabbed US and EU travellers as ministers discuss amber watchlist August 2, 2021 Fully-vaccinated travellers from the EU and the USA are now able to enter the UK without quarantining. The government announced the new scheme – which came into effect at 4 am this morning – last week, saying it could help reunite friends and family who live abroad. People coming from France are still required to [...]