UK signs deal for 50million doses of Covid vaccines to target potentially jab-resistant variants

The UK has rubber-stamped a deal for 50million doses of tweaked coronavirus vaccines, as it steps up efforts to fight off jab-resistant variants.  Newly-emerged strains have sparked concerns across the world, after tests revealed some may be able to dodge immunity triggered by the current crop of vaccines. But the deal signed between the Department … Read more

UK vaccine minister says most 4,000 Covid variants exist worldwide

Oxford University and AstraZeneca plan to have a new Covid vaccine ready by the autumn to tackle new variants of the coronavirus, they confirmed yesterday.   Growing evidence suggests that a mutation first found in the South African variant of the virus, and now cropping up elsewhere, can reduce how well current vaccines work because it … Read more

Almost 4,000 Covid variants exist around the world, vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi says

Oxford University and AstraZeneca plan to have a new Covid vaccine ready by the autumn to tackle new variants of the coronavirus, they confirmed yesterday.   Growing evidence suggests that a mutation first found in the South African variant of the virus, and now cropping up elsewhere, can reduce how well current vaccines work because it … Read more

Covid antibody drugs might not work against new variants, says study

Antibody cocktail drugs that offered ‘great hope’ in treating Covid-19 are ineffective against worrying new variants of the virus, research suggests.  Lab tests found the experimental treatments, known as monoclonal antibodies, failed to neutralise strains which emerged in Kent, South Africa and Brazil. The drugs are derived from cloning a single antibody, a virus-fighting protein, found … Read more

Promising antibody drugs might not work against new variants, scientists say

Antibody cocktail drugs that offered ‘great hope’ in treating Covid-19 are ineffective against worrying new variants of the virus, research suggests.  Lab tests found the experimental treatments, known as monoclonal antibodies, failed to neutralise strains one or more of strains which emerged in Kent, South Africa and Brazil. The drugs are derived from cloning a … Read more

Coronavirus vaccines could be tweaked to spark immunity against new variants in just three weeks

Coronavirus vaccines could be tweaked to spark immunity against new variants in just three weeks, a top scientist has said. Professor Robin Shattock, an Imperial College London scientist who is working on booster shots, said experts could rapidly adapt the current crop of jabs, allowing them to be rolled out within a couple of months. … Read more

Boris Johnson says vaccines ARE effective against Covid variants

Boris Johnson today insisted lockdown is working and vaccines are effective against coronavirus variants – but warned it is too early to take our ‘foot off the throat of the beast’. The PM struck a positive tone as he visited a vaccination site in Yorkshire, saying there was evidence of a ‘flattening and maybe even … Read more

People with weak immune systems ‘may be breeding grounds for new coronavirus variants’

Scattered reports have emerged of people being reinfected with coronavirus after testing negative – but one man may have had three ‘recurrences’ of COVID-19 over the course a gruelling, ultimately fatal, 154-day battle with the infection.  In a case report, Brigham and Women’s Hospital physicians describe the struggle of a 45-year-old man who had a … Read more

Boris Johnson says lockdown is working and vaccines ARE effective against Covid variants

Boris Johnson today insisted lockdown is working and vaccines are effective against coronavirus variants – but warned it is too early to take our ‘foot off the throat of the beast’. The PM struck a positive tone as he visited a vaccination site in Yorkshire, saying there was evidence of a ‘flattening and maybe even … Read more

Tesla confirms £100k+ Model S and Model Plaid variants for the UK

Tesla has revamped the two most expensive cars in its arsenal, with the Model S and Model X getting upgrades along with the addition of the auto maker’s latest tri-motor Plaid variants. But UK buyers will need to wait a year to get their hands on them. The updates extend the gap between Elon Musk’s electric … Read more