Handout screengrab from Parliament TV of Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaking in the House of Commons, London, as he told MPs that India will be added to the coronavirus travel red list from 4am on Friday. Picture date: Monday April 19, NEW pilot schemes have been launched to further encourage people to self-isolate if they have coronavirus. Nine areas across England with higher COVID-19 rates will benefit from the scheme, including Lancashire, Blackburn & Darwen and Greater Manchester. Local authorities will pilot alternative accommodation and translation help to further support those who have to self-isolate In partnership with local authorities, government is backing the pilots with £12 million which will be used for a range of initiatives including providing alternative accommodation for people in overcrowded households, social care support and providing ‘buddying’ services for people whose mental health has been affected by lockdown.
Pharmafield
The study found that, for the period from 5 April to 16 May:
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant 2 weeks after the second dose, compared to 93% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant.
Two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 60% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant compared to 66% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant.
Both vaccines were 33% effective against symptomatic disease from B.1.617.2, 3 weeks after the first dose compared to around 50% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant.
The analysis included data for all age groups from 5 April to cover the period since the B.1.617.2 variant emerged. It included 1,054 people confirmed as having the B.1.617.2 variant through genomic sequencing, including participants of several ethnicities. Data published on Thursday 20 May for vaccine effectiveness covered the period since December for those aged over
Public Health England
Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses
New study by PHE shows for the first time that 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India.
Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant is similar after 2 doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant dominant in the UK, and we expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death.
The study found that, for the period from 5 April to 16 May:
the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant 2 weeks after the second dose, compared to 93% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
Greater Manchester in government s £12m plan to help people stick to isolation rules
The funding will support a wide range of tactics including alternative accommodation, buddying services and translation help
Updated
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The government has announced a £12million plan to try and stop the spread of coronavirus variants.
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