UK says new study vindicates delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot
Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday a new study suggesting that a single dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine may reduce transmission of COVID-19 categorically supports the government's strategy of taking more time between injections. Some countries, including France, have authorized the AstraZeneca vaccine only for use in people under 65, saying there is not enough evidence to say whether it works in older adults. AdBritain has Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, with more than 108,000 deaths, and is in its third national lockdown as authorities try to contain a new, more transmissible virus variant first identified in southeast England. AdThat is a worry as the U.K. races to vaccinate its own population against the virus. Pollard said Oxford scientists believe the AstraZeneca vaccine will continue to offer protection against new variants of COVID-19, although they are still waiting for data on that.
UK to vaccinate out of pandemic by looking to local GPs
GPs like Dr. Ammara Hughes are crucial to the National Health Serviceโs plan to expand vaccinations from hospitals and clinics to doctors' offices around the country. But can the NHS deliver an average of more than 2 million shots a week for the next six weeks? The U.K. has recorded nearly 80,000 deaths linked to COVID-19, the deadliest outbreak in Europe and the fifth-highest in the world. David Halley, 83, was overjoyed to get his vaccine at his local GP this week. โI donโt want to get sick and Iโve got family and grandchildren and so on, so itโs important,'' he said.
Sky News anchor suspended for breaching virus restrictions with birthday party
LONDON โ British broadcaster Sky News has taken one of its leading news anchors off the air for six months after she threw a birthday party that violated coronavirus restrictions. Under current restrictions in the British capital, people from different households can't meet indoors. Two reporters who attended the gathering, political editor Beth Rigby and correspondent Inzaman Rashid, will be off-air for three months, Sky News said. Burley, who has been a presenter on Sky News since the channelโs debut in 1989, said she had agreed โto step back from my broadcasting role for a period of reflection. The fact is I was wrong, I made a big mistake, and I am sorry.โ
UK says 4-week coronavirus lockdown may have to last longer
Earlier Saturday British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England will start a month long lockdown next week. The lockdown announced Saturday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to run from Thursday until Dec. 2. Unlike during the U.K.โs first three-month coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, schools, universities, construction sites and manufacturing businesses will stay open. Like other European countries, virus cases in the U.K. began to climb after lockdown measures were eased in the summer and people began to return to workplaces, schools, universities and social life. ___Follow APโs coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak