Second dose vaccine strategy has 'saved lives'

The decision to delay second doses of Covid vaccines has been credited with saving a "large number" of lives, after data suggested hospital admissions are being greatly reduced.

The "hugely reassuring" results from a Public Health England (PHE) study have indicatedthatboththePfizerand Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines arehighlyeffectiveinreducing infections.

Protectionagainstdeveloping symptomatic Covid-19 in the over-70s ranged between 57% and 61% for one dose of Pfizer and between 60% and 73% for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, the study found.

Over-80swhohadbeenvaccinated with one dose of either jab had more than 80% protection against hospital admission, while the Pfizer jab was 85% effective at preventing death from Covid-19.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said the "bold" decision to delay the second dose so more older people could be protected by a single dose more quickly had saved lives.

He said: "These real world results demonstrate a very good effect from both vaccines after the first dose. The Covidvaccinationstrategywas designed to prevent as many deaths as quickly as possible.

"The bold decision to vaccinate more older people by delaying the second dose has undoubtedly saved a large number of lives."

HealthSecretaryMattHancock hailed the "exciting new data"as"extremelygoodnews".

He said the results may go somewaytoexplainingwhythe number of Covid admissions to intensive care units among people aged over 80 in the UK have dropped to single figures in recent weeks.

A chef at a Sunderland school is reaping the benefits of on-the-job experience by running his own kitchen just three years after joining the school catering team.

Josh Kane, 20, who runs the kitchen at St Leonard’s Catholic Primary School in Silksworth, has been named newcomer of the year at the EDUcatering Excellence Awards.

Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust (BCCET) first employed Josh three years ago as an apprentice in the kitchens of St Wilfrid’s RC College, based in South Shields - with no previous experience and limited catering skills.

Josh won the highlyacclaimed award for helping St Wilfrid’s to provide healthy school meals and was praised for his innovation in creating a menu that was tasty and appealing to a wide age range of children that ticked the health and nutrition box too.

Brendan Tapping, chief executive at BCCET, said: “Josh joined after finishing school and we have continued to support his development and watched him flourish into a talented and creative chef who is now making nutritious meals for pupils on a daily basis.

“Josh is a great role model to young people and is now in a position to train future apprentices.”

Josh, from South Shields said: “When I first joined Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust I had no previous kitchen experience. However, the support to develop has been fantastic and I have learnt so much in the last three years.

“It’s been an interesting year, but I’ve learnt so much and enjoyed the challenge.”