COVID-19

Our current COVID vaccines could soon be updated to target new variants.

— Against omicron, many of us will have minimal neutralising antibodies left after infection because of the variant’s ability to rapidly mutate. It may be time for a new generation of COVID vaccines.

Investigation

Investigation into the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories.

— The government’s public procurement approaches were not appropriate at the pandemic’s start, especially when dealing with Randox Laboratories, the National Audit Office reports.

Monkeypox

How the monkeypox epidemic is likely to play out – in four graphs.

— Possible outcomes of the current monkeypox epidemic under four different scenarios.

Monkeypox

Monkeypox: An expert explains what we need to know.

— How monkeypox spreads and how to protect yourself.

COVID & Travel

Should I still go on holiday if I have COVID?

— Given most countries have stopped requiring negative COVID tests to enter, can you just go? An ethicist weighs in.

COVID-19

Stronger democracies have seen fewer excess deaths during COVID.

— The way societies are governed seems to have influenced how they’ve fared in terms of excess deaths during the pandemic. For pandemic preparedness, the public must be able to trust authorities and institutions.

Long COVID

Long COVID: Female sex, older age and existing health problems increase risk – new research.

— A new study has analysed UK data from long-term health surveys and electronic health records to understand how common long COVID is, and who might be at higher risk.

Analysis

We shouldn’t be complacent to the potential threat of this, or subsequent COVID waves.

— Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are behind an increasing wave of infections in the UK. The wall of immunity put up by vaccinations and previous infections is not as strong as it once was. So, what happens next?

Public Health

Avian flu has jumped from chickens to wild birds and is spreading fast.

— The avian flu outbreak serves as another reminder of how connected we are to nature, and how our interactions with the natural world have huge consequences on us all.

COVID-19

Vaccination could reduce Long COVID symptoms, new research suggests.

— A study of more than 28,000 UK adults has found that vaccination after having COVID is linked to a decrease in long COVID symptoms.

What The Experts Say

Monkeypox – We need to understand more about the transmission dynamics.

— The views of experts and health professionals on the monkeypox outbreak.

COVID-19

Haven’t had COVID yet? It could be more than just luck.

— Even taking into account people who have had COVID but didn’t know it, there’s still likely to be a group of people who have never been infected.

Testimony

Long COVID in children is real and serious. There are treatments available... just not in the UK.

— My daughter Jasmin has had long COVID for the past 16 months. I tried for over 6 months to get her research bloods done in the UK. Hitting brick walls, in desperation I took her to Germany in February.

COVID-19

Severe COVID is equivalent to 20 years of ageing.

— A new study finds that the cognitive loss from severe COVID is the same as losing 10 IQ points.

Environment

A fracking review suggests the UK has softened the precautionary principle since leaving the EU.

— Despite banning fracking in 2019, the UK government’s decision to soften the fracking moratorium could pave the way for regulatory decisions which prioritise potential financial benefits over the risks to the environment and public health.

Testimony

COVID in children is not mild.

— Kim Wareham’s daughter is 10. After successfully protecting her against the virus for two years, omicron finally got her. Through her testimony, she wants people to know what her suffering has been like and that COVID-19 for children is not mild.