Health department’s Covid response was an ‘absolute total disaster’, says Dominic Cummings March 17, 2021 The health department’s initial response in the early days of the Covid pandemic was an “absolute total disaster”, Dominic Cummings has told MPs. The Prime Minister’s former chief aide added that the health department was a “smoking ruin in terms of procurement and PPE”. “Obviously last year we saw that the Department for Health had [...]
Which countries in Europe have suspended the Astrazeneca vaccine? March 17, 2021 Fifteen countries across Europe have suspended the rollout of the Astrazeneca vaccine while the EU medicines regulators investigates reports of blood clots among patients. Sweden yesterday joined a growing list of countries including Italy, Germany, France and Norway to issue a temporary ban on the jab. State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said the pause was a [...]
EU leaders promise to U-turn on Astrazeneca ban if regulator clears it March 17, 2021 France and Italy have signalled that they are prepared to U-turn on their suspension of the Astrazeneca Covid vaccine if the European regulator declares it is “firmly convinced” over the jab’s safety. French President Emmanuel Macron and new Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said they would “promptly restart the administration of the Astrazeneca vaccine” if it was [...]
Half of UK adults will be vaccinated by the end of the week, says minister March 17, 2021 More than half of Britain’s adult population will have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the week, as nation’s largest ever immunisation programme continues at pace, the business minister has said. Kwasi Kwarteng told BBC Breakfast: “I think by the end of the week 50 per cent of the [...]
EU medicines regulator: ‘No indication’ Astrazeneca vaccine causes blood clots March 16, 2021 The EU’s medicines regulator has insisted there is “no indication” that Astrazeneca’s Covid vaccine causes blood clots among patients, after a swathe of European countries suspended the jab over safety concerns. Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said the agency remains “firmly convinced” that the benefits of the Astrazeneca vaccine outweigh the [...]
Covid: Antibody levels hit fresh record as one in three people in England show immunity March 16, 2021 One in three people in England are estimated to have coronavirus antibodies either from past infection or vaccination, according to the latest official figures. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest infection survey showed that almost 35 per cent of the English population tested positive for antibodies on a blood test in the 28 days [...]
EU orders more Pfizer vaccine doses as Sweden joins countries halting Astrazeneca jab March 16, 2021 The EU has ordered more doses of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine to plug a shortfall that has arisen from a swathe of countries banning the Astrazeneca jab over safety concerns. European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen announced on Twitter that the EU had agreed an “accelerated delivery of 10m doses” of the Pfizer vaccine to [...]
US may approve Astrazeneca vaccine in April, even as EU states ban jab over blood clot fears March 15, 2021 US may approve Astrazeneca vaccine in April, even as EU states ban jab over blood clot fears
Government signs deals for 200m rapid Covid tests ahead of lockdown lifting March 15, 2021 The government has signed deals with two British companies to supply 200m rapid Covid-19 tests ahead of plans to roll out a “mass testing blitz” once lockdown restrictions are lifted. The Department of Health announced it has inked agreements with Scotland-based Omega Diagnostics and Bedforshire-headquartered Global Access Diagnostics to produce the tests, which have a [...]
France, Italy follow Germany in suspending Astrazeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns March 15, 2021 France, Italy follow Germany in suspending Astrazeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns