15/11/20 Articles In the News
Recent Covid-19 News Articles Summaries!
New Scientist: Covid-19 news: One in four patients not getting life-saving treatment
· 25% of people who should receive dexamethasone as treatment are not being given the medicine, according to UK gvt’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies
· Failure to give this treatment has led to 55 deaths
· Dexamethasone- steroid, only known drug that reduces deaths from coronavirus, works by suppressing an overreaction of immune system that can cause damaging inflammation of lungs
BBC Health: Vaccine or no vaccine, we have to get through this first
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54932843
· Vaccine roll out does not necessarily mean epidemic will be brought to a halt
· Huge logistical exercise in vaccinating large numbers of people
· Infection rates still remain high, UK averaging 20,000 confirmed infections a day
· Unsure how well the vaccine works in elderly, whether it stops people passing it on, how long immunity lasts
Independent: Oxford coronavirus vaccine expected to be easier to roll out than Pfizer jab
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/oxford-vaccine-covid-coronavirus-latest-b1721276.html
· Oxford vaccine expected to be easier to store and distribute throughout UK as compared to Pfizer
· Pfizer Vaccine needs to be kept at -70C up until the day it is used, which could complicate roll out of doses to GP clinics and care homes
· Oxford vaccine can be stored between 2C and 8C, expected to be easier to administer
· Pfizer vaccine also requires two injections spaced 3-4 weeks apart which could further complicate things
· Cost of Pfizer vaccine expected to be 10x higher than Oxford’s
Bloomberg Businessweek: How a Covid-19 Vaccine could end up helping the Virus spread
· If people who get vaccinated remain capable of carrying and transmitting virus, they could contribute to spread of disease
· In early months, when only some people are protected, they could unwittingly spread disease to people who are still vulnerable
· Vaccinated people might stop wearing masks and social distancing because they themselves aren’t at risk anymore
· Unsure if sterilising immunity will be achieved through the vaccine