EU regulator to investigate Covid vaccines after blood clot deaths March 12, 2021 The EU’s drugs regulator has launched an in investigation into whether any of the three vaccines approved in the bloc may be linked to a blood clotting deficiency, after several blood clot-related deaths were reported in various countries. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced today that several cases of immune thrombocytopenia — a lack of platelets [...]
London records drop in coronavirus prevalence as infection rate holds steady March 12, 2021 The percentage of Londoners testing positive for coronavirus has fallen in the past week, latest official figures showed, as Covid cases continue to decline across the country. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) latest infection survey estimated that the proportion of people in the capital testing positive for coronavirus fell to 0.3 per cent last [...]
Thailand joins Nordic countries in halting Astrazeneca vaccine rollout March 12, 2021 Thailand has joined a list of countries in delaying the rollout of the Astrazeneca vaccine over reports of blood clots among patients, as scepticism over the Oxford vaccine continues to spread across the globe. Denmark, Iceland and Norway suspended vaccinations using the Astrazeneca jab yesterday during an investigation into a blood clot-related death of a patient in [...]
Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out but rules out repeat this summer March 12, 2021 The chancellor has defended last year’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme despite concerns it caused a spike in coronavirus cases, though he ruled out reintroducing it after lockdown restrictions are lifted. In evidence to MPs yesterday, Rishi Sunak that there was so much “pent-up” demand for meals and pints out among consumers that there [...]
England banned from Easter holidays in Wales March 12, 2021 People in England will not be allowed to holiday in Wales when self-catered accommodation reopens at Easter, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said. Drakeford told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he hoped tourism would be open to people outside of Wales by the summer if coronavirus cases continue to fall at the current rate. [...]
Furlough scheme ‘disproportionately’ affects women, study finds March 12, 2021 The government’s furlough has “disproportionately” affected women, who are over-represented in jobs most vulnerable to closures during the pandemic, according to a new study. Research carried out by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London found women were more likely to be furloughed for longer periods of time than men during the coronavirus [...]
EU regulator approves Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot Covid vaccine March 11, 2021 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorised Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine, in a major boost for the EU’s vaccine portfolio amid ongoing shortage disputes. The EU medicines regulator today announced its recommendation for the J&J vaccine to be used in all over-18s “after a thorough evaluation” of data found the jab met the [...]
Norway and Denmark suspend Astrazeneca vaccine rollout as a ‘precaution’ March 11, 2021 Norway and Denmark have both halted the rollout of Astrazeneca’s Covid vaccine as a “cautionary decision”, after reports of one individual suffering severe side effects. Denmark this morning became the first country to impose a total ban on the Anglo-Swedish firm’s jab, after other countries halted the distribution of certain batch numbers. The country’s health [...]
EU extends vaccine exports checks by three months amid Astrazeneca row March 11, 2021 The European Commission has extended export controls on Covid vaccines until the end of June, amid an ongoing row with the UK over “vaccine nationalism”. The export authorisation scheme was introduced in January amidst a separate dispute over low supplies of the Astrazeneca jab within the EU. The scheme, which was originally intended to run [...]
Serco, Deloitte and Amazon bosses coached on how to apply for New Years Honours March 11, 2021 Contractors, consulting giants and big businesses who profited from the coronavirus pandemic are being offered tailored advice on how to apply for New Years Honours. Serco and Amazon are among a number of industry giants being asked to nominate staff members for official honours from the Queen such as MBEs. The revelations emerged after invitations [...]