ALMOST 600 volunteers in Dorset have taken part in a trial for a new coronavirus vaccine. Initial results show the Novavax vaccine to be 89.3 per cent effective and evidence will now be submitted for independent scrutiny and product approval. It is also showing positive results against new variants of Covid-19. A total of 591 Dorset residents took part in the trial of the vaccine, which has been developed by US-based biotechnology firm Novavax. It was trialled at the Dorset Research Hub at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and 60 million doses have already been secured for the UK with manufacturing set to take place on Teesside.
Instead of addressing the grievances highlighted in the frontline nurse’s letter, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust management is desperately trying to shut down any discussion in the workforce about patient and staff safety.
THERE have been 17 new coronavirus deaths recorded in Dorset hospitals, latest figures show. The figures include the first coronavirus deaths in five days to have been recorded at Dorset County Hospital Trust. NHS England figures show 81 people had died in hospital at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (February 2). That was an increase of five compared to the 76 that had been recorded at the same point on Monday, and the first deaths in five days. A further five new coronavirus deaths have also been recorded at another Dorset Trust in the latest 24-hour period. NHS England figures show 60 people had died in hospital at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Tuesday (February 2).
Thousands of people across the county have now received their first dose of the vaccine. Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group is asking people to be patient and not contact their GP practice or hospital to request a vaccine. People will be contacted when it s their turn to receive it. NHS England data published on February 1 shows 918,897 people have had their first dose of the vaccine in the south west with 55,378 receiving their second. In Dorset, 53,960 people under the age of 80 had received their first dose up to January 24 with 48,206 of over 80s getting theirs. Meanwhile, 7,015 of over 80s in the county had received their second jab within the same period with 1,556 under the age of 80 having theirs.
Eight more people die with Covid-19 in Dorset hospitals A FURTHER eight people have died in Dorset hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19. All eight deaths have been confirmed by University Hospitals Dorset, which runs Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital. Five of the deaths occurred on January 29 with a further three on January 30. This means since the start of the pandemic, 664 people have died with the coronavirus in the county’s hospitals. University Hospitals Dorset has recorded 360 deaths, Dorset County Hospital 76 and Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust 53. Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital and Poole Hospital confirmed 68 and 107 deaths respectively prior to the merger.