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| Covid live: Jonathan Van-Tam warns of ‘bumpy few months ahead’ as boosters recommended for over-40s in UK | Covid live: Jonathan Van-Tam warns of ‘bumpy few months ahead’ as boosters recommended for over-40s in UK |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| England’s deputy chief medical officer warns of difficult Christmas period after advising over-40s in UK should be offered third dose of Covid vaccine | England’s deputy chief medical officer warns of difficult Christmas period after advising over-40s in UK should be offered third dose of Covid vaccine |
| Spain’s medicines agency has authorised Catalonia-based pharmaceutical group Hipra to test a vaccine it is developing on more than 1,000 volunteers, the prime minister Pedro Sánchez has said. | |
| Hipra will carry out the so-called Phase II trial – the second stage of a three-round trial process – on volunteers at 10 hospitals around Spain, Sánchez said. | |
| Speaking at an event to present how European Union recovery funds will be channelled into health investments, Sanchez described the vaccine development as “extraordinary news”. | |
| “It demonstrates that Spain can position itself at the forefront of the response to Covid,” he said, adding that the government had given a €15m (£12.78m, $17.17m) grant to develop the drug. | |
| Hipra, a pharmaceutical lab that mainly researches and manufactures veterinary vaccines, has been working on two shots. One is based on the same RNA messenger technology used in shots made by Pfizer and Moderna, while the second, which has just received approval for trial, uses a recombinant protein like that of US-based drugmaker Novavax. | |
| Hipra has said on its website that it anticipates being able to produce 600m doses in 2022 and double that figure the following year. | |
| Stormont is facing renewed calls to introduce vaccine passports after escalating pressures on the health system saw ambulances diverted away from a main hospital. | Stormont is facing renewed calls to introduce vaccine passports after escalating pressures on the health system saw ambulances diverted away from a main hospital. |
| Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh stopped receiving ambulances carrying patients with non-life-threatening conditions on Sunday night due to severe capacity issues in its emergency department. | Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh stopped receiving ambulances carrying patients with non-life-threatening conditions on Sunday night due to severe capacity issues in its emergency department. |
| At one point, there were 108 patients waiting in A&E, 32 needing hospital admission. However, the hospital, which had 123 Covid-19 inpatients last night, only had three available beds. | At one point, there were 108 patients waiting in A&E, 32 needing hospital admission. However, the hospital, which had 123 Covid-19 inpatients last night, only had three available beds. |
| As a result, the British Medical Association called on the Stormont Executive to revisit the issue of vaccine passports as a priority. | As a result, the British Medical Association called on the Stormont Executive to revisit the issue of vaccine passports as a priority. |
| Making certification a legal entry requirement for hospitality venues has been credited with driving up vaccination rates among young people in the Irish Republic. | Making certification a legal entry requirement for hospitality venues has been credited with driving up vaccination rates among young people in the Irish Republic. |
| North of the border, the Executive has recommended that nightclubs and other venues carry out Covid entry checks and an official app has been developed to enable people to show proof of their vaccine status. | North of the border, the Executive has recommended that nightclubs and other venues carry out Covid entry checks and an official app has been developed to enable people to show proof of their vaccine status. |
| However, the administration has stopped short of making it a legal requirement of entry. | However, the administration has stopped short of making it a legal requirement of entry. |
| A “blizzard” of cases coming from Europe could derail Christmas plans unless people in the UK take up the offer of booster jabs, Boris Johnson has warned. | A “blizzard” of cases coming from Europe could derail Christmas plans unless people in the UK take up the offer of booster jabs, Boris Johnson has warned. |
| The prime minister said there was a “storm of infection” in mainland Europe, but the top-up vaccinations offered the best form of protection for the UK. | The prime minister said there was a “storm of infection” in mainland Europe, but the top-up vaccinations offered the best form of protection for the UK. |
| He stressed there was nothing in the domestic data that suggested a need to increase restrictions in England. | He stressed there was nothing in the domestic data that suggested a need to increase restrictions in England. |
| Ministers have set out contingency measures – a “plan B” – if there is unsustainable pressure on the NHS. The use of face coverings could become mandatory, vaccine passports could be required for some busy venues and people could be asked to work from home where possible. But Johnson said: | Ministers have set out contingency measures – a “plan B” – if there is unsustainable pressure on the NHS. The use of face coverings could become mandatory, vaccine passports could be required for some busy venues and people could be asked to work from home where possible. But Johnson said: |
| The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has made two significant announcements, recommending rolling out booster vaccines to those aged between 40 and 49, and recommending a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 16 and 17. | The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has made two significant announcements, recommending rolling out booster vaccines to those aged between 40 and 49, and recommending a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 16 and 17. |
| England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has said the country may still face “a bumpy few months ahead” and that “everyone has a key role to play in achieving as safe and disruption free winter as possible. Wear face coverings in crowded places if it is practical to do so. Increase indoor ventilation whenever you can. Make sure you are vaccinated.” | England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has said the country may still face “a bumpy few months ahead” and that “everyone has a key role to play in achieving as safe and disruption free winter as possible. Wear face coverings in crowded places if it is practical to do so. Increase indoor ventilation whenever you can. Make sure you are vaccinated.” |
| Dr June Raine, of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said that studying the data from the booster programme for over-50s in the UK there were “no new safety concerns” and “the booster doses are effective”. | Dr June Raine, of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said that studying the data from the booster programme for over-50s in the UK there were “no new safety concerns” and “the booster doses are effective”. |
| Outsourcing company Serco said profits would be higher than expected in 2021 thanks to greater demand from the UK government for its Covid-19 services, including test and trace. | Outsourcing company Serco said profits would be higher than expected in 2021 thanks to greater demand from the UK government for its Covid-19 services, including test and trace. |
| Conservative party chairman Oliver Dowden has backed AstraZeneca’s controversial announcement that it is moving to seek a profit from its Covid vaccine sales. Dowden also ruled out the UK government following the example of Austria and imposing lockdown conditions on people who are unvaccinated. | Conservative party chairman Oliver Dowden has backed AstraZeneca’s controversial announcement that it is moving to seek a profit from its Covid vaccine sales. Dowden also ruled out the UK government following the example of Austria and imposing lockdown conditions on people who are unvaccinated. |
| Germany’s coronavirus infection rate has risen to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, as the three parties in talks to form a new government plan an expansion of measures to tackle the pandemic. The seven-day incidence rate – the number of people per 100,000 to be infected over the last week – rose to 303 from 289 the previous day, figures from the Robert Koch Institute showed. | Germany’s coronavirus infection rate has risen to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, as the three parties in talks to form a new government plan an expansion of measures to tackle the pandemic. The seven-day incidence rate – the number of people per 100,000 to be infected over the last week – rose to 303 from 289 the previous day, figures from the Robert Koch Institute showed. |
| Austria’s lockdown restrictions on those who are unvaccinated came into force today. “My aim is very clear: to get the unvaccinated to get vaccinated, not to lock up the unvaccinated,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told ORF radio. | Austria’s lockdown restrictions on those who are unvaccinated came into force today. “My aim is very clear: to get the unvaccinated to get vaccinated, not to lock up the unvaccinated,” Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg told ORF radio. |
| The government in Belgium has moved a meeting to debate new measures against Covid from Friday to Wednesday in order to have them in place for the weekend, as hospital admissions in the country are up 30% on a weekly basis. | The government in Belgium has moved a meeting to debate new measures against Covid from Friday to Wednesday in order to have them in place for the weekend, as hospital admissions in the country are up 30% on a weekly basis. |
| China is battling the spread of its biggest Covid-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant as case numbers in the north-eastern city of Dalian outpace anywhere else in the country. The Dalian outbreak has prompted China to confine nearly 1,500 university students to their dormitories and hotels in the city. | China is battling the spread of its biggest Covid-19 outbreak caused by the Delta variant as case numbers in the north-eastern city of Dalian outpace anywhere else in the country. The Dalian outbreak has prompted China to confine nearly 1,500 university students to their dormitories and hotels in the city. |
| Florida lawmakers will meet on Monday for a week-long special legislative session called by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, with the goal of thwarting coronavirus vaccine mandates imposed by businesses or government agencies. | Florida lawmakers will meet on Monday for a week-long special legislative session called by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, with the goal of thwarting coronavirus vaccine mandates imposed by businesses or government agencies. |
| Israel gave the green light on Sunday to start vaccinating children aged between five and 11 against Covid-19 using Pfizer/BioNTech jabs, following the example of the US. | Israel gave the green light on Sunday to start vaccinating children aged between five and 11 against Covid-19 using Pfizer/BioNTech jabs, following the example of the US. |
| Cambodia reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers on Monday, two weeks earlier than originally planned, as it emerges from a lengthy lockdown bolstered by one of the world’s highest rates of immunisation against Covid-19. | Cambodia reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers on Monday, two weeks earlier than originally planned, as it emerges from a lengthy lockdown bolstered by one of the world’s highest rates of immunisation against Covid-19. |
| Classrooms across the Philippines are filling up with students again for the first time in nearly two years. Children have been allowed back for face-to-face learning from Monday as the country begins its pilot implementation of limited in-person classes. | Classrooms across the Philippines are filling up with students again for the first time in nearly two years. Children have been allowed back for face-to-face learning from Monday as the country begins its pilot implementation of limited in-person classes. |
| That is your lot from me, Martin Belam, today. Kevin Rawlinson will be here shortly to take you through the rest of the days coronavirus news from the UK and around the world. | That is your lot from me, Martin Belam, today. Kevin Rawlinson will be here shortly to take you through the rest of the days coronavirus news from the UK and around the world. |
| Belgium’s government is bringing forward a meeting to decide on tighter measures to control the spread of Covid-19 amid a rapid increase in infections and hospital admissions. | Belgium’s government is bringing forward a meeting to decide on tighter measures to control the spread of Covid-19 amid a rapid increase in infections and hospital admissions. |
| The meeting, originally set for Friday, was brought forward to Wednesday so that any measure approved midweek could be operational by the weekend, the government said this morning. | The meeting, originally set for Friday, was brought forward to Wednesday so that any measure approved midweek could be operational by the weekend, the government said this morning. |
| Associated Press notes that hospital admissions are up 30% on a weekly basis, and the number of patients in intensive care have risen to more than 500, putting more strain on hospitals in the nation of 11 million. | Associated Press notes that hospital admissions are up 30% on a weekly basis, and the number of patients in intensive care have risen to more than 500, putting more strain on hospitals in the nation of 11 million. |
| Belgium has just gone through an extended holiday weekend and no precise new caseload figures were published on Monday. | Belgium has just gone through an extended holiday weekend and no precise new caseload figures were published on Monday. |
| Authorities reimposed some pandemic restrictions three weeks ago after relaxing them just a few weeks earlier. They also expanded a nationwide use of the Covid-19 pass. | Authorities reimposed some pandemic restrictions three weeks ago after relaxing them just a few weeks earlier. They also expanded a nationwide use of the Covid-19 pass. |
| But infections have continued to rise, and the government is expected to look into further areas where face mask-wearing should be made mandatory. It is also set to consider turning its advice on working from home into a mandatory order to prevent employees from mingling. | But infections have continued to rise, and the government is expected to look into further areas where face mask-wearing should be made mandatory. It is also set to consider turning its advice on working from home into a mandatory order to prevent employees from mingling. |
| It will be too soon to judge what impact Austria’s lockdown that targets the unvaccinated will have on the vaccination rates in the country, but I’ve just seen this picture from this morning in Salzburg, where there is a large queue to get the jab at the “Impfbus”. | It will be too soon to judge what impact Austria’s lockdown that targets the unvaccinated will have on the vaccination rates in the country, but I’ve just seen this picture from this morning in Salzburg, where there is a large queue to get the jab at the “Impfbus”. |
| One of the questions for England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, at that press briefing was around the ethics of using vaccine doses to deliver booster shots in a wealthy country like the UK, when there are developing nations struggling to even put one dose into people’s arms. He said: | One of the questions for England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, at that press briefing was around the ethics of using vaccine doses to deliver booster shots in a wealthy country like the UK, when there are developing nations struggling to even put one dose into people’s arms. He said: |
| This is another key stat that Jonathan Van-Tam gave in his message – looking at the hospitalisation rates. Pippa Crear, political editor at the Daily Mirror, sums it up in one tweet: | This is another key stat that Jonathan Van-Tam gave in his message – looking at the hospitalisation rates. Pippa Crear, political editor at the Daily Mirror, sums it up in one tweet: |
| The precise numbers given were: | The precise numbers given were: |
| England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has said the country may still face “a bumpy few months ahead”. At this morning’s Downing Street briefing he said: | England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has said the country may still face “a bumpy few months ahead”. At this morning’s Downing Street briefing he said: |
| England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has made the following comments at a Downing Street briefing on the coronavirus. He was delivering his comments remotely from a clinical setting. The key points he made included: | England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, has made the following comments at a Downing Street briefing on the coronavirus. He was delivering his comments remotely from a clinical setting. The key points he made included: |
| Prof Wei Shen Lim of the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) summed up his announcements like this. | Prof Wei Shen Lim of the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) summed up his announcements like this. |
| I’ll have some quotes from England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam in a moment, he is following the technical announcements with what he said were some “over-arching comments”. | I’ll have some quotes from England’s deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam in a moment, he is following the technical announcements with what he said were some “over-arching comments”. |
| Dr June Raine of the MHRA also spoke on the safety of vaccine delivery to younger people. She said: | Dr June Raine of the MHRA also spoke on the safety of vaccine delivery to younger people. She said: |
| There will be a difference with the dose of Moderna delivered as a booster, said Prof Wei Shen Lim of the JCVI. He said: | There will be a difference with the dose of Moderna delivered as a booster, said Prof Wei Shen Lim of the JCVI. He said: |