Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Old get Max from vax
Oxford jab gives ‘robust’ result for all ages.. as row over Xmas rages on
THE elderly got a major boost yesterday as data suggested Oxford University’s Covid-19 jab triggers a “robust” immune response in every age group.
It came as Public Health England revealed case rates in England have fallen for most age groups but continue to rise among over-70s.
If the data from Phase 2 trials of the jab is confirmed in Phase 3 in coming weeks, it could let the UK rapidly vaccinate the population, protecting the vulnerable elderly.
But the row over whether to allow an easing of restrictions over the festive season raged on.
Scientists suggest that for every day of relaxation, five days of tighter rules will be needed.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned people would regret a five-day break that would “give granny Covid for Christmas”.
And Professor Andrew Hayward, of University College London, said: “We’re on the cusp of being able to protect those elderly who we love through vaccination and it would be tragic to throw that away and waste gains made during g lockdown by trying to return to normality over the holidays.”
Yesterday, the UK had a rise in confirmed cases after six days of decline. There were 22,915 positive tests, up from 19,609 the day before, and 501 more deaths.
Phase 2 trial data published in The Lancet showed the Oxford jab, developed with Astrazeneca, had similar immune responses across all three age groups – 18 to 55, 56 to 69 and the over-70s. Co-author D r Ma h e s h i Ramasamy said: “The robust antibody and T-cell responses seen in older people are encouraging. [Those] at greatest risk include people with existing health conditions and older adults.
“We hope our vaccine will help protect some of the most vulnerable but further research will be needed.” And Health Secretary
There is no point having a merry Xmas then burying relations in January PROFESSOR GABRIEL SCALLY WARNING AGAINST EASING RULES
Matt Hancock said: “Th i s is a really encouraging set of findings.”
The Phase 3 results will come after Pfizer and Moderna publish their own.
The Health Service Journal said NHS England has told lo cal leaders that each of the 42 health systems in England should have at least one mass vaccination site, likely to be i n conference centres or similar venues.
Derby City Council said talks are under way to use Derby Arena to help administer the vaccine developed by Pfizer.
While the UK has secured 40 million doses of Pfizer’s jab and five million of Moderna’s, it has reserved 100 million of Oxford’s.
As the Oxford jab is part-funded by the G o vernment, it is cheaper –thought to cost less than £2 per dose compared with around £30.
And as it is manufactured in the UK it could be rolled out rapidly, starting before Christmas.
But experts warn it can take a fortnight for immunity to develop, so it is unlikely to save the festive season.
And while the Government will set out Christmas easing proposals next week, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said it should instead be worrying about “crowded” hospitals.
President Dr Katherine Henderson said: “That’s the reality of what we’ve got in hospitals at the moment. Let’s not have that happening – and then we can talk about Christmas.”
Professor Gabriel Scally, of Bristol University, said the festive period is “too dangerous a time and opportunity for the virus to spread”.
He added: “There is no point having a merry Christmas and then burying friends and relations in January… We have not made nine months of sacrifices to throw it all away at Christmas.”
Former PM Gordon Brown admonished Boris Johnson for always being “behind the curve”. The Labour stalwart, pictured below, said: “What he’s got to do is say ‘If there’s any doubt about whether we can lower the restrictions at Christmas, we’ve got to act now. We’ve got to take the tough measures that are necessary now’.”
It came as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a fall in the R number shows “tough measures” are working. She said Holyrood will soon publish an updated R estimate expected to be “slightly below one”.
The SAGE group of experts will publish the UK’S official R range today. Last week, it was 1 to 1.2. Cambridge University yesterday estimated R is around 1 in all English regions.
Meanwhile, Downing Street said it will not ban mistletoe, despite fears it may encourage people to pucker up and fuel Covid’s spread.