These are the UK coronavirus stories you need to know about today.
Oxford Jab’s ‘No Indication’ causes blood clots
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) reiterated that the benefits of the Oxford / AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine still outweigh the risks, although expert studies continue.
More than 12 European countries, including Sweden and Latvia today, have stopped using the injection following concerns of thromboembolism first raised by Norway.
EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said there was no indication that clotting events were the result of vaccination. “The benefits still outweigh the risks, but this is a real concern and requires a thorough and detailed scientific evaluation. This is what we are currently working on,” she told a news conference.
The results of the EMA review will be released on Thursday.
Yesterday, JCVI UK Deputy Chair, Professor Anthony Harnden, said: “The UK has delivered 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and there has been no noticeable difference in the number of blood clots since its inception. to introduce a vaccine. “
Non-vaccine NHS reassignments
NHS England’s HR guidance states that frontline staff who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine could be reinstated: “If an employee refuses to disclose their vaccine status or after a one-to-one sensitive conversation one, with the support of occupational health colleagues, decided to refuse the vaccine. , job changes need to be discussed to move them to a less vulnerable situation. These discussions may require comments from local trade union representatives. “
The document states: “We recognize that not all employees will be eligible to receive the vaccine (eg, medical contraindications) and therefore universal coverage may not be achieved.”
He confirms that vaccination is strongly induced but remains a personal choice: “At this time, there are no plans to prescribe the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Maintaining local records and centrally submitted data, he said “it should reflect the size / decline of staff in frontline situations”.
Surge test
Harrow and Southwark in London are the latest areas targeted for compliance testing to identify issues of the South African variable.
Enhanced contact detection will also be used.
The Lock up of Scotland
Scotland will introduce the ‘stay at home’ order on 2 April replacing it with ‘local living’.
Wholesale and non-essential hairdresser can open 3 days later.
Scotland would leave lockdown and enter ‘Amended Stage 3’ on 26 April.
“The exact details of ongoing restrictions will depend on an assessment of the situation closer to the time,” said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Antibodies rising
Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey data shows that the vaccination program is increasing the number of people who test positive for antibodies. Approximately 1 in 3 people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland would have been positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the 28 days to 3 March. The figure is 1 in 4 for Scotland.
Antibodies were more common in the elderly according to vaccine priority groups.
Sarah Crofts from ONS said: “The positive impact of vaccine distribution is clearly evident in our data. While antibody levels continue to rise across the UK, those age groups who have made it a priority for vaccines. -now reveals the most positive test for antibodies.
“Antibody levels are expected to rise across other age groups after a period of high disease as more people have been exposed to the virus.
“Women are more likely to test positive for antibodies than men across most of the UK. The reasons for this vary from biological reasons to more women being employed in some priority jobs for vaccines, such as carers. “
NHS Tech Concerns
Remote consultations and the use of technology have gone up in response to the pandemic but a report from the Health Foundation finds that improvements are needed before these strategies can be locked in.
YouGov conducted online surveys of over 4000 adults in the UK and over 1000 NHS staff.
Around three-fifths of NHS users increased their use of technology to access care and 83% of these had a good experience. However, 42% said more technology was reducing the quality of care.
For staff, 78% reported an increase in the use of advanced technology but 33% said this led to a poorer quality of care.
The Foundation for Health ‘s Deputy Director of Development, Tim Horton, said: “Given the significant pressures on the NHS, it is remarkable that so many patients and staff have reported positive experiences such as new technologies were introduced, however, as soon as they were achieved, their introduction meant that important steps – such as patient evaluation and coding – needed to be shortened. in the shadow of the pandemic, the NHS needs to evaluate and improve these practices before they are locked in for the future. “
COVID far
UK Biobank is beginning a long-running COVID study using infection data from the 500,000 participants who will be sent antibody home self-test kits.
Senior Scientist Professor Naomi Allen said: “Many people know about the short-term effects
of SARS-CoV-2, but little is known about its long-term health effects. in addition
Information on what Biobank participants in the UK have provided is a unique dataset for researchers around the world to assess the long – term health effects of the virus. “
Routine Health Data & Tests
The use of routine NHS health data as the new standard for testing, the annual meeting of the British and Irish Medical Association, will be held online.
Ahead of the event, Professor Martin Landray from the Oxford RECOVERY trial said: “Accessing data through clinical trials is a unique opportunity to access data. normal health and making the most of that data. “
He continued: “The challenge was how to use routine data in the context of clinical trials to understand whether or not treatment was beneficial. The steroid, dexamethasone, is partially an issue. It has been found to reduce risk of death by a third for [COVID] patients on air vents.
“When I started RECOVERY, nobody believed it was possible to use standard data in a way that could inform such a large test.
“RECOVERY is a new standard in the use of big data in clinical trials. The ongoing challenge is to do that business as usual.”
Prince Philip
The Duke of Edinburgh, 99, left King Edward VII’s hospital in London earlier today after a successful heart operation at St Barts.
The reason for his first hospitalization was not disclosed but was not related to COVID.
The 28 nights as a patient were within the longest time Prince Philip has remained in the hospital.
Buckingham Palace has said it wants to thank the medical staff who treated him.
See more global coronavirus updates in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.