LOCKDOWN AND CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS have changed many aspects of our lives and many people are eager to hug their family and friends once again. Scientific advisors have given an estimated time frame of when people may be able to hug their loved ones- and it might be as early as June. This is thanks to a new study which suggests a single jab can cut virus transmission by up to half. Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) group, suggested the decision on whether social distancing would be needed going into the summer months could be a political one.
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People who come into contact with someone with coronavirus may not have to self-isolate any more, if a new government trial proves successful.
Instead, they will have to take a covid test every day.
Government injects £37m into genomics and data-driven initiatives
30th April 2021
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced new funding for genomics projects and data-driven initiatives as part of plans to ‘transform’ the UK life sciences industry.
Hancock revealed the government’s plans for the UK life sciences sector during the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) Annual Conference yesterday.
The plans set out the government’s aims to ‘harness the momentum’ created during the COVID-19 response, to transform the UK life sciences sector into a ‘superpower’.
This includes £37m worth of new investments for genomics projects and data-driven initiatives.
Health services across the UK have now administered a total of 47,045,391 million vaccines between 8 December and 26 April, including 33,843,580 million people with their first dose and 13,201,811 million with their second.
The milestone means one in four adults in the UK has received the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 and it comes as the NHS is now inviting 42 and 43-year-olds to get their jab.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said, “This latest milestone is a terrific cause for celebration.
“Over a quarter of all adults across the UK, including those most vulnerable to COVID-19, have now had two jabs, meaning they have received the strongest possible protection.
A series of photographs taken by photojournalists working with the NHS have been published to showcase the people behind the UK-wide vaccination programme. Working with the NHS, photojournalists Jude Palmer, Glenn Edward and Liam McBurney have captured the largest vaccination programme in British history in a series of poignant, never-before-seen photographs Images show moments during the monumental national effort, including volunteers at the Royal Welsh Showground near Builth Wells. Jude Palmer, photojournalist, said: While the pandemic has been an incredibly difficult time in our history, it had to be documented. It’s been an honour to witness the incredible roll out of the life-saving vaccine first-hand and document this in a meaningful, compassionate way.