These are the UK coronavirus stories you need to know about today.
COVID far
COVID’s long-standing guidance has been provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the Scottish Intercollegiate Leadership Network, and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Patients with typical COVID-19 may have persistent symptoms if they present with symptoms 4 to 12 weeks after the onset of depressive symptoms, and may develop post-COVID syndrome if their symptoms are not present. solution after 12 weeks.
NHS England said long-term COVID-specific help would be available at 69 sites.
Dr Graham Burns, clinical director of the long-distance COVID center at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle, said in a press release: “In the first wave of the pandemic many people did not recover as soon as they were able to We had no idea how long COVID was – the world has never seen COVID – 19. We set up the clinic in Newcastle to support patients, but it has also been be extremely helpful in helping us understand what COVID is.
“I am delighted that patients now have places to turn around the country, and at a national level doctors will be able to learn from our common knowledge and offer specific support to patients. “
Oxford vaccine ‘Good immune response’
More data have been released about the Oxford / AstraZeneca phase 1 and 2 vaccine trials.
The data showed a better immune response with two full doses than a full dose and a half-dose increase.
The new data did not report the half-dose, full-dose that has been proven to be more effective than two full doses.
“The increased doses of the vaccine have been shown to both induce stronger antibody responses than a single dose, the standard dose / standard dose stimulating the optimal response,” the university said in a statement, adds that the vaccine “stimulates broad antibody and T. cell activities”.
The findings are reported in two papers on T cell and antibody responses, and elevated doses, in Nature’s cure.
Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency has convened an extraordinary meeting on 6 January to finalize its evaluation, if possible, of the Moderna vaccine.
U.S. consultants have provided a positive assessment of the vaccine ahead of an upcoming FDA decision.
The UK MHRA is carrying out its own assessment of vaccines and a decision on the Oxford vaccine is expected shortly.
Choice of GPs on ‘Spaab Jabs’
Each vial of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is designed to make five doses, but some GPs have found that six were possible.
NHS England has told clinicians they could use the sixth dose “as they wish”.
The Telegraph said the MHRA regulator was looking at the possibility of getting six vaccines out of the filters.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 78% of adults would be very likely or very likely to have the COVID-19 vaccine.
Among those who said they were very unlikely or very unlikely to get the vaccine, common causes were:
-
Concerns side effects (52%)
-
Waiting to see how well it works (52%)
-
Long-term health effects (46%)
Separate data from ONS shows that the availability of vaccines means that 23% now believe that life will return to normal within 6 months.
Population locks
Northern Ireland has announced a 6 week closure from Boxing Day. Wales had already announced similar measures.
The Stormont decision was made after reports of the NHS were stretched and a queue of ambulances was seen waiting outside A&E departments with patients being treated in car parks.
ONS infection survey data published today shows that the percentage of people taking a positive test in Northern Ireland does not appear to be declining in the most recent week (6 to 12 December), with 8500 people with COVID-19, equivalent to 1 in 215 people.
In England, there were about 567,300 COVID-19s in the most recent week, coming to around 1 in 95 people.
ONS said there had been a sharp rise in progressive cases in London, and also an increase in the east of England, the East Midlands and the South East.
In Scotland cases increased over the most recent week by 52,500 people with COVID-19, equivalent to 1 in 100 people.
There was also an increase in Wales, with COVID-19 at 33,400 people, equivalent to 1 in 90 people.
The UK R number has risen to 1.1-1.2 up from 0.9-1.0 last week.
The growth rate is + 1% to + 4% per day.
CMO Report
Professor Chris Whitty has delivered his first annual report as CMO of England.
In addition to COVID-19, it has identified health problems in deprived areas, and halted life expectancy.
In a statement, he said: “While COVID-19 has taken control of the news, and remains an urgent priority, other diseases and health problems such as cancer and cardiovascular disease continue to be under great pressure.
“I have brought together the latest data for health in England as they highlight key issues to address, identify where they are in the country where they are most significant and trends in health over time.
“Poor health varies widely across the country, and much of this is to be avoided. It is possible to build the health outcomes of the least healthy closer to those of the healthiest – we should be aim for that. “
School Exam
After announcing major trials in schools in England next term, ministers were less clear about who will do it.
They will not be teachers. Schools Minister Nick Gibb told Sky News: “Teachers are already in full use.”
He said trials will be planned by the Armed Forces, and administered by volunteers and group staff.
The teaching unions raised concerns about whether enough probationers could be trained in time.
Children’s websites
Dr Xand and Dr Chris Van Tulleken from CBBC are part of new Government websites providing coronavirus information for children.
Source: DHSC
Chair of the Interim Managing Director of the National Institute for Health Protection, Baroness Dido Harding, said: “We are delighted to be working with Dr Xand and Dr Chris to provide the knowledge they need. to children, and to help teachers and schools explain the changes their students are seeing. when they come to school after the holidays. “
See more global coronavirus updates in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.