The Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid made the announcement today that those in the elderly and vulnerable groups will be offered another booster jab in the not too distant future, following JVCI advice.

The vaccine will be on offer to 75-years-old or over, care home residents for older adults and for immunosuppressed people from 12-years and over as early as the start of spring.

All those within the UK and Northern Island will be eligible so long as they meet the criteria.

The Health Secretary said:

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“Thanks to our COVID-19 vaccination rollout, we are already the freest country in Europe. It has saved countless lives, reduced pressure on the NHS and is allowing us to learn to live with the virus.

“Today I have accepted the advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to offer, from spring, an additional COVID-19 booster jab to people aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed.

“All four parts of the UK intend to follow the JCVI’s advice.

“Following the JCVI’s advice, I have asked the NHS to prepare to offer those eligible a vaccine from around six months after their last dose and they will set out further details in due course.

“We know immunity to COVID-19 begins to wane over time. That’s why we’re offering a spring booster to those people at higher risk of serious COVID-19 to make sure they maintain a high level of protection. It’s important that everyone gets their top-up jabs as soon as they’re eligible.

“The JCVI will keep under review whether the booster programme should be extended to further at-risk groups.

“This is a national mission – the vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones and I urge everybody to get your jabs as soon as you can. For anyone who is yet to get a booster, come forward to Get Boosted Now.”

 

Meanwhile infection rates continue to plummet across Salford and Greater Manchester with levels far below the national average.

When the North Mersey Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) decided to transform their outdoor space, they never dreamt of the impact it would have – or that the journey would be supported, documented and broadcast to millions by BBC Two’s Your Garden Made Perfect expert team.

The mental health benefits of green, fresh outdoor spaces have long been known, with the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating the benefits of having a garden more than ever.

GMMH’s North Mersey CMHT knew their overgrown outdoor space at Kingslea House had untapped potential, and with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing new challenges - including limited capacity in their indoor seating areas, increased isolation for vulnerable service users, and fewer chances to safely bring people together to take part in fun activities – they decided they could wait no longer.

During the pandemic, Captain Sir Tom Moore amazed the nation by raising a huge £38.9 million (including gift aid) for NHS Charities. GMMH was given a proportion of this funding, and opened up the opportunity for staff across the Trust to bid for chunks of the funding to implement creative initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of service users, staff and/or volunteers.

North Mersey CMHT successfully bid for a small portion of the Sir Captain Tom funding to transform their garden into a greener, more welcoming space, that could be used and enjoyed by service users, staff and the wider community.

Jenny Massie, Consultant Psychiatrist at GMMH’s North Mersey CMHT said:

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“People who visit our team often have difficulties with anxiety and distress, and there’s good evidence that contact with nature can help people move from states of high distress to more positive emotional ones. We wanted to make sure that people who come to Kingslea House feel as relaxed as possible, so they can feel comfortable talking about the sorts of things they want help with.

“It was also important to us to stay connected with our local community, and provide a pleasant, green haven for neighbours in our mostly urban area. We wanted the garden to bring people together safely, and thought a regular gardening group would be a great way to do so, at a time when lots of therapeutic activities in the local area had been paused.”

 

The team knew they wanted a beautiful, interactive garden, but didn’t quite know where to start, so they decided they needed to enlist the help of an expert, and applied to be a part of season two of BBC Two’s Your Garden Made Perfect – and, quite unexpectedly, they were successful.

Your Garden Made Perfect’s expert community garden designer, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, was tasked with working with the mental health team to design and create a green outdoor space which was visually appealing, therapeutic and social.

The garden transformation was a real cross-team effort, and also brought individuals and services from across the Trust together. Elizabeth Scantlebury, Wellbeing Therapist at GMMH’s Recovery Pathways service, joined the project to design a feature mural which the whole team could contribute to.

Elizabeth Scantlebury, Wellbeing Tutor at Studio One, part of GMMH’s Recovery Pathways service said:

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“I wanted to design something that represented hope, community, and tranquillity. To show people they could feel safe as soon as they stepped foot in the garden.

“Art has an amazing ability to help people channel their emotions, and improve overall health and wellbeing. For me, it’s as much about the process of creating as it is enjoying the final piece. Getting messy, bouncing ideas off each other, changing the plan when it started to rain(!) was all part of it - a fantastic way to unwind, and enjoy the present moment.”

 

Over just five days – the team worked in rain and shine to make the design a reality – closely documented by the BBC camera crew.

The result was an amazing garden, which included seating areas - for people to wait for appointments, get together and chat, or just take in the greenery - alongside a water feature, wild ‘stepping stones’, raised beds, ‘succulent frames’ and of course, the community mural, complete with a thank you message for Sir Captain Tom.

Both the process and the end result have seen amazing benefits for staff, service users and the wider community.

Rachel Clarke, Advanced Clinical Practitioner at GMMH’s North Mersey CMHT said:

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“Our garden has gone from a place you’d walk straight past, to a place you want to sit and enjoy the quiet. It’s a diverse space for people to relax, spend some time in nature, or catch up over a cup of tea. Our service users have really benefitted from having the option to wait for their appointments there, and sometimes they even stay for just that bit longer once they’ve finished!

“It has brought everyone together. Now we have a lovely place to eat lunch, and we have started a regular gardening group which has been so much fun. We get so many compliments from our neighbours too, and it’s definitely been a great way to attract local wildlife and support conservation efforts.

“After all the challenges the pandemic has brought, it’s not just a garden, it’s been a real tonic during difficult times.”

 

One service user at GMMH’s North Mersey CMHT, who would like to remain anonymous said:

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“Waiting for an appointment is much improved now. It’s made a lovely difference to be able to sit outside in the garden on the benches instead of inside in a waiting room. Especially when it’s nice weather!  It makes me smile when I go to Kingslea House now.”

Another service user, who would like to remain anonymous said:

“It is so bright and colourful! If I am early for an appointment I can sit outside and enjoy the garden now. It lifts my mood, and I imagine that it cheers others up to. Thank you to all the contributors - it is much appreciated!”

 

The North Mersey CMHT’s episode of Your Garden Made Perfect was broadcast on 18 February 2022, and can be watched on demand, for a limited time, on BBC iPlayer via the following link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00144j3/your-garden-made-perfect-series-2-3-debi-and-des.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems, do not delay. Please speak with your GP as soon as you can, or, you can call the urgent mental health helpline which is available all day, every day, free of charge on 0800 953 0285 if you live in Bolton, Salford, Trafford or Manchester, or 0800 051 3253 if you live in Wigan.

NHS chief executive Matthew Taylor and other health leaders raise concern over the government's 'Living with COVID-19' strategy.

Nearly eight in 10 NHS leaders want the public to continue to have free access to Covid-19 tests, with nine in 10 wanting free access for key workers to continue.

Three quarters would disagree with changing the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive result to being advisory only.

More than four in five would be against ending compulsory mask wearing in NHS and care settings.

Elective treatments, access to general practice and other routine care provided by the NHS could become disrupted if further strains of coronavirus are allowed to spread across the country with reduced national oversight.

This is a concern of health leaders as the Government prepares to confirm its “Living with Covid-19” strategy for England next week.

A week on from publication of the NHS Elective Recovery Plan, which sets out how the waiting list of over 6 million people will be tackled, the NHS Confederation is calling on the Government to take a cautious and evidence-based approach to exiting the pandemic so that the NHS can continue to meet the full healthcare needs of the population.

It is widely rumoured that the plan will bring an end to free lateral flow tests for millions of people, as well as an end to mandatory self-isolation for anyone with a positive result from as early as next month. This is as both hospital admissions and deaths linked to the virus continue to fall nationally, thanks in large part to the success of the vaccine roll out and the new Covid treatments that the NHS is delivering.

In a poll of more than 300 of the most senior leaders in the NHS in England carried out by the NHS Confederation, nearly eight in ten leaders (79%) strongly disagreed or disagreed with the plan to stop free access to Covid-19 tests for the public, with 94% feeling the same about NHS staff and other key workers. NHS staff are currently required to test at home twice a week.

Also, three quarters (75%) of health leaders who responded to the survey disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal to change the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive result to being advisory only. The rules currently state that people must self-isolate for ten full days from when their symptoms begin or when they test positive, with opportunities to exit after five days if certain conditions are met.

The survey was carried out by the NHS Confederation between Monday 14 and Wednesday 16 February 2022, covering health leaders across NHS acute, mental health, community and ambulance service trusts, primary care, clinical commissioning groups and integrated care systems in England. 307 people took part.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 

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“Hospital admissions and deaths linked to coronavirus continue to fall nationally and this is allowing the NHS to bring back many routine services that it was asked to deprioritise during the peaks of the pandemic, including some non-urgent elective procedures. With the success of the vaccine and new Covid treatments, this offers real hope as we learn to live with the virus.

“But the Government cannot wave a magic wand and pretend the threat has disappeared entirely. So much is uncertain still, including our long-term immunity and the emergence of future strains, which requires a solid testing infrastructure and clear guidance around self-isolation to remain in place.

“A lot is at stake for the NHS’s recovery ambitions if the Government is too gung-ho in its plans for exiting the pandemic, which is why health leaders are calling for a cautious and evidence led approach. This must not be driven by political expediency.”

 

Elsewhere in the poll, more than four in five (82%) health leaders disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal that there should be an end to compulsory mask wearing in NHS and care settings. While the Government has confirmed that PPE will remain free for all health and care settings in England throughout 2022/23, infection prevention and control guidance for the NHS has not confirmed future arrangements about the use of face coverings and other measures by staff, patients and visitors as the national response to coronavirus evolves.

One NHS leader responding to the survey said: 

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“Masks will protect vulnerable patients who will otherwise be nervous about coming in, and our staff from Covid and other circulating respiratory viruses. Levels are still too high to stop wearing masks."

Also in the survey, 83% of health leaders who took part in the poll said they do not want the weekly ONS infection survey, which has been tracking infection rates and antibodies across households since June 2020, to come to an end. This follows suggestions that it could be scrapped or drastically scaled back as part of the Government’s plans. If this happened, it would mean that the country’s ability to detect new variants will be limited significantly.

Health leaders have also been clear that the need for continued communications about the importance of good public health measures, such as handwashing, ventilation and the wearing of face coverings in indoor settings, which could reduce transmission of coronavirus should continue.

One respondent to the survey said: 

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“Reducing our information about spread is crazy at this stage.”

Another said: “If this coming winter will include flu, Covid and other pressures, it would be useful to know exactly what pressure Covid is putting on hospitals. We don't know how the pandemic will develop.”

 

Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: 

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“There are still high levels of coronavirus in the population and there are many people who remain vulnerable to serious illness. ‘Living with Covid’ means us accepting the consequences for these people as individuals but will also put further pressure on an already pressurised, understaffed health service that is short of beds. Meanwhile lifting restrictions will skip a whole phase of ‘recovery’ that will make it even more difficult to achieve the government’s ambitions in the elective care delivery plan.

“There is already a risk that the elective care plan will be quickly derailed by the crisis in Emergency care but lifting restrictions and revoking free testing could lead to a new wave of covid pressures on Emergency Departments, which will disrupt elective care even further.”

 

Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: 

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“This poll confirms what many of us have been thinking and saying since the announcement about relaxing the rules early in England was made. That is that it all feels very sudden and more driven as much by the current political pressures than by robust scientific guidance. We do have to learn to live safely with Covid in the medium term, that does not mean pretending the threat to our health and in some cases life simply no longer exists. We should take a more gradual, phased approach to relaxing the rules and carefully watch what happens to the rates of infection - particularly in healthcare settings or other environments where people are particularly at risk. We also need the ONS survey of cases to continue so that we have accurate data on which to base future decisions.”

Survey also reveals unpaid family carers experiencing acute financial hardship as a result of their caring role

Findings from a Carers Trust survey, published today, (1) provide alarming evidence of a deep-rooted failure by successive governments to understand and meet the basic support needs of millions of people struggling to provide unpaid care for a family member or friend.

There is a near total sense among survey respondents of feeling abandoned by Government over a long time. Almost nine out of ten (86%) of unpaid carers agreed, or strongly agreed, that ‘successive governments have ignored the needs of unpaid carers for a long time’.

And only 1% of respondents (just 12 out of more than 1,500 unpaid carers who completed the survey) felt that politicians understand unpaid carers.

A separate poll of the UK public by research company Opinium (2) for Carers Trust found that UK adults support the need for unpaid carers to receive more support from the Government. According to the Opinium poll:
 

·     four in five UK adults (80%) agreed that the Government needs to do more to support unpaid carers.

·     more than two thirds (68%) of UK adults agreed that all unpaid carers should receive financial support from the Government.

·     almost half (46%) of UK adults did not agree that Carer’s Allowance is a fair level of support for an unpaid carer looking after a family member or friend for a minimum of 35 hours a week.

Unpaid carers being driven into acute financial hardship

Carers Trust’s survey results also demonstrated how many unpaid carers are being driven into acute financial hardship because of their caring role, with inadequate financial support from successive governments widely cited by survey respondents in their written responses.

Of those unpaid carers responding to a question on whether they had had to give up paid work because of their caring role, almost half (48%) said they had.

Financial pressures arising from giving up paid work are further exacerbated for many unpaid carers unable to claim Carer’s Allowance. The survey found that, of those responding to a question on whether they were receiving Carer’s Allowance, more than half (51%) said they were not.

A common complaint from survey respondents was how family carers of pensionable age stopped receiving Carer’s Allowance because they were receiving pensionable income, even though they were caring for a family member round the clock:

“I did [receive Carer’s Allowance] until I reached my state pension age, but as they class a pension as a benefit and you cannot get two "benefits" it was taken away. I have an underlying right to it though...Caring gets harder as you get older.”

Many unpaid carers receiving Carer’s Allowance complained that payment of £67.60 a week inadequately recognised the number of hours they spent on their caring role. They also felt the payment was not enough, given the complexity of needs many carers have to deal with. One carer commented that, after adding up all the hours he spent caring for his wife, he was earning just 50p an hour from Carer’s Allowance (2 - see Notes to Editor for more statistics on carers’ finances).

Responding to the survey findings, Carers Trust’s Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs, Joe Levenson, said:

“Day in day out millions of unpaid carers play a crucial role, caring for family and friends and propping up our creaking social care system. But it’s clear from our survey that this is at great personal cost, and that unpaid carers are struggling to cope and feel marginalised and ignored by government.

Reading the anguished responses from unpaid carers you get an overwhelming sense of how so many have been brought to breaking point. Unpaid carers are united in saying that they feel ignored and let down by the failure of successive governments to improve their lives, including through wide-reaching social care reform that could ease the responsibilities of care placed so heavily on family carers.

That’s why the all too familiar practice of paying lip service to supporting carers while looking the other way must stop now. We welcome the UK Government’s recognition of the importance of unpaid carers in the recent adult social care white paper and are committed to working together to improve carers lives, but unpaid carers need ambitious and transformational change and they need it now.

The Government could let carers know they have been heard straight away by introducing a national strategy for unpaid carers, to ensure their needs are a priority across government. And they should act on what unpaid carers have told us, putting them at the heart of this strategy so it’s able to deliver the transformational change that’s desperately needed – such as boosting Carer’s Allowance and making it easier to claim and funding regular breaks and respite for carers.”

In response to the survey findings, and on behalf of the carers who told us what was needed, Carers Trust is calling on Government to develop a new UK Government Strategy for Carers. The strategy should include: improved availability of statutory care and support for people with care and support needs of all ages, so that unpaid carers’ caring roles are sustainable; improved support for unpaid carers themselves, including regular breaks and respite so unpaid carers can live a meaningful life alongside caring; a reform of Carer’s Allowance so that unpaid carers are better protected against financial hardship.
 

A new citywide mental health service has been approved, anticipated to support an additional 5,000 people per year in Salford.

‘Living Well Salford’, jointly funded by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust (GMMH) and Salford Primary Care Networks, is the name given to the new local system designed to meet the needs of adults with mental health problems that require more support than primary care can offer, but don’t meet the criteria for secondary care mental health services.

The Living Well model is a new offer of support co-designed by people with lived experience of mental health problems, it offers multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team support comprising Peer Workers, Recovery Workers and Mental Health Practitioners along with a range of other colleagues in areas such as psychology, psychiatry and housing.

GP Dr Nicholas Browne, clinical lead for Salford CCG, said: “Mental Health services have historically been underfunded and oversubscribed. Salford has led the way in investing more into mental health services than the nationally prescribed budget. Despite this, we all know more needs to be done.

“At last week's CCG Governing Body meeting, the business case for the roll out of the Living Well model across the city was agreed. This will be a £3m annual, recurring investment into an award-winning model which has shown great success in Broughton over the last three years.”

This new service has been developed as part of a national three-year programme to think differently about mental health support.

Over the past three years, Salford has worked with the Innovation Unit, a not-for-profit social enterprise to co-design the support offer.

Nick Webb, Director of Mental Health Innovation at Innovation Unit, said: “Innovation Unit is absolutely delighted with the news that Living Well Salford now has the backing it needs to spread person-centred support across the whole city. We have been privileged to have worked with such a brilliant team over the last three years.

He added “Their unwavering commitment to people, to lived experience, and to changing mental health services for the better is truly inspirational. We are excited to see what they do next!”

 A pilot has been operating across Broughton to test out the model which has shown tremendous benefits, focusing on people’s skills, aspirations, and experiences to build a different way of offering mental health support to the people of Salford.

The service is expected to be rolled out across the city during summer 2022.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS are calling on parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and all other routine childhood immunisations, as the latest data shows MMR vaccination uptake has dropped to the lowest level in a decade.  

In a new campaign drive, parents and guardians are being reminded that during the pandemic, the NHS has continued to provide routine childhood immunisations and they are crucial in protecting children against preventable diseases.   

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, there has been a significant drop in the numbers of people getting their children vaccinated against MMR and other childhood vaccines at the right time.  

Coverage of the two doses of the MMR vaccine in five-year-olds is currently 87% in the North West, which is below the 95% World Health Organisation’s target needed to achieve and sustain measles elimination. Coverage of the first dose of the MMR vaccine in two-year-olds is 95% in the North West. This means that there are still children under the age of five in the North West not fully vaccinated against measles and are at risk of catching it.

Measles is highly contagious so even a small decline in MMR uptake can lead to a rise in cases. As international travel resumes, it is more likely that measles will be brought in from countries that have higher levels of the disease and so it is important that we improve MMR vaccination rates to help prevent a rise in cases.  

Measles can lead to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain which may require hospitalisation and on rare occasions can lead to long term disability or death. Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968, it is estimated that 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths have been prevented in the UK. 

Children are offered two doses of the MMR vaccine by their registered GP surgery, the first when they turn one and the second at around three years and four months. The NHS has continued to prioritise routine vaccinations throughout the pandemic, however, some parents who haven’t had their child vaccinated with the MMR vaccine said this was because they didn’t realise the NHS was still offering appointments, or they didn’t want to burden the NHS.

Dr Caroline Rumble, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA North West, said:

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“The MMR vaccine offers the best protection from measles, mumps and rubella which is why we’re calling on parents and carers to make sure their children are up to date with their two doses of vaccine.

“Measles can have serious health consequences, and it is very concerning to see falling levels of uptake of the MMR vaccine. It is absolutely crucial we make sure our children are fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella with both doses of the jab.

“As measles is highly infectious, even a small decrease in vaccine coverage can potentially lead to outbreaks.

“I would urge parents to check if their children are up to date with their MMR vaccines and if not to get them booked in as soon as they are able. It’s never too late to catch up."

 

Tricia Spedding, Head of Public Health for NHS England and NHS Improvement North West, said: 

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“Childhood vaccinations, including MMR, provide crucial protection against serious and potentially deadly illnesses, as well as stopping the spread in the community.

“If you’re a parent or guardian, please make sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date and if they have missed a vaccination, don’t worry, you can contact your GP practice to book an appointment as soon as you can to make sure they have maximum protection against disease.” 

 

Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with all their routine vaccinations should check their child’s Red Book (personal child health record) in the first instance. If you are still not sure, or if you need to bring your child up to date with their vaccines, contact your GP practice to check and book an appointment.

To find out more about the MMR vaccine, please visit nhs.uk/MMR for more information. 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in the UK.

This follows rigorous clinical trials supported by National Institute for Health Research and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA, which has concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

Over 1,655 volunteers took part in Greater Manchester, which was the UK’s highest recruiting region to the trial. The volunteers participated in the trial at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

The Novavax study found the COVID-19 vaccine was 89.7% effective at preventing COVID-19, prior to the Omicron variant emerging.

The study, led by researchers at St George’s, University of London, is the largest ever double blind, placebo-controlled vaccine trial to be undertaken in the UK, recruiting 15,203 participants from 33 research UK sites in just eight weeks, between September 2020 and November 2020.

Helped by the invaluable support of these participants, and research teams in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Novavax has become the fifth COVID-19 vaccine to be authorised by the MHRA. It follows the Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna and Janssen vaccines - but is the first protein-based vaccine approved in the UK.

The Novavax vaccine has also been authorised by the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organisation, meaning participants in the study will have their vaccination status recognised outside of the UK. Until this time, a number of countries had refused to recognise the vaccinated status of people who had taken part in this trial, leading to them facing difficulties in international travel.

Professor Andy Ustianowski, Deputy Clinical Director at NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester, and Clinical Lead for the NIHR’s COVID Vaccine Research Programme, said:

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“We are extremely grateful to the participants in Greater Manchester and across the country who volunteered in such strong numbers to be part of this vital trial and waited patiently for the regulator’s announcement. 

“The delivery of this major project in our region was made possible thanks to a ‘One Greater Manchester’ approach. This involved colleagues from various NHS organisations working together across two sites to ensure our local communities had the opportunity to be part of this ground-breaking research which will now benefit people around the world."

 

Dr David Baxter, Principal Investigator for the trial at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:

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“The Stockport vaccine team is delighted to learn that the vaccine has been approved for use in the UK. We are indebted to the hundreds of participants who were involved in the trial at our trust. It’s thanks to their willingness to be part of this research that we now have another safe and effective vaccine to protect people against COVID-19 in the UK and globally.

“I would also like to thank staff from across our trust and our NHS partner organisations in Greater Manchester who have worked tirelessly on this trial from start to finish.  An incredible amount of commitment and dedication from a great many NHS Research and Innovation colleagues has made this announcement possible.”

 

Professor Paul Heath, Novavax Phase 3 trial Chief Investigator and Professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

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“On behalf of the participants and trial teams I am delighted that the MHRA have now authorised the Novavax vaccine, in addition to the recent authorisations from the World Health Organisation and the European Commission.

“The altruism, willingness and patience of the over 15,000 participants across the UK and that of the 33 trial teams has been exceptional. This has been despite huge challenges, including with certification and travel. The participants and teams alike should take great pride in their part in having brought another effective vaccine to the UK and, through the COVAX programme, to the global population.”

 

A new report from NHS Digital shows that the 5-year cancer survival rate1 for 0-14 year olds increased over time, from 76.9% in 2002 to 85.2% in 20192, its highest recorded level.

This increase also held true for that age group across 1-year survival rates (89.7% in 2002 to 93.2% in 2019) and 10-year survival rates (74.6% in 2002 to 81.9% in 2019).

Childhood cancers accounted for 0.3% of all new cancer diagnoses registered in 2019 with the majority of cases being either leukaemia, malignant neoplasms of the brain or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Cancer Survival in England for Patients Diagnosed Between 2015 and 2019 publication uses National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) data and provides information on survival rates for cancers in adults that were newly diagnosed between the 2015 and 2019 calendar years and in children that were newly diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 calendar years in England3. 

Breakdowns for adult survival are available by geography, sex, deprivation and diagnosis stage.

Deprivation

For the first time, deprivation breakdowns have also been included in the report4.  This shows that for most cancer types, the net survival rate was lowest in the most deprived area and highest in the least deprived (net survival rate consistently decreases as deprivation increases)5.

The largest deprivation difference in 1-year age standardised net survival rates was seen in women with bladder cancer, where the variation was 13.4 percentage points between those women living in the most deprived areas (58.4%) and those in the least deprived areas (71.8%).

The report also shows that for cancers diagnosed between 2015 and 2019:

Survivability for adults

Skin cancer had the highest 5-year age standardised net survival rate (94.8%).

Pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma had the lowest 5-year age standardised net survival rates, at 7.8% and 6.3% respectively.

The increase and decrease in 5-year survival for several different cancers6 were also averaged over the ten different reporting periods for patients diagnosed between 2006-10 and 2015-197.  

This showed that for both males and females:

the biggest increase in survivability was in myeloma (average annual increases 1.0% for males and 1.4% for females)

the biggest decrease was in bladder cancer (average annual decreases 0.5% for males and 0.6% for females).

Stage at diagnosis

5-year age standardised net survival by stage ranges from 3.2% for stage 4 lung cancer for males to over 100% for stage 1 melanoma for females.

Researchers in Greater Manchester are encouraging adults who test positive for coronavirus to sign-up for a world-first study investigating the effectiveness of new oral antiviral treatments which can be safely taken at home.

The Platform Adaptive trial of NOvel antiviRals for eArly treatMent of COVID-19 In the Community (PANORAMIC) study has already enrolled over 6,400 participants from every corner of the UK since it opened in December.

However, the research team still needs thousands more participants to achieve the trial’s first recruitment target and generate the evidence to enable the antiviral drug molnupiravir to be clinically deployed to those who will benefit as soon as possible.

The government and leading charities, including Kidney Care UK, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Diabetes UK and the British Liver Trust, are also calling on eligible people to take part.

The PANORAMIC study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research and run by the University of Oxford, was set up to rapidly produce the evidence needed to enable a new generation of potentially revolutionary, orally administered COVID-19 antiviral treatments to be rolled out to those most at risk from the disease.

The study opened for recruitment and began enrolling participants on 8 December 2021 - with a total of 6,460 enrolled by 1 February 2022.

The nation-wide trial aims to recruit over 10,600 participants to each of the treatments that it will investigate. The antiviral molnupiravir, which is already licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is the first investigational medicinal product to be assessed.

Dr Sheila McCorkindale, Specialty Lead for Primary Care at National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Greater Manchester, said:

"This landmark trial provides us with an opportunity to gather the extra evidence needed to allow these ground-breaking COVID-19 treatments to be rolled-out widely, as rapidly and safely as possible.

"For this to happen though, we need the public to help by getting involved in the PANORAMIC trial. I would encourage anyone who meets the participation criteria to go to the website to sign-up, or speak to your GP or healthcare professional.

"It's thanks to people taking part in research that we now have a number of vaccines, tests and lifesaving treatments for coronavirus. By taking part in the PANORAMIC trial, you can make a real difference by helping the NHS add to its armoury against the virus."

Professor Chris Butler, co-Chief Investigator of the PANORAMIC study said:

“Despite all the amazing support already given to the PANORAMIC study, we need even more people in the early stages of their COVID illness to take part and urgently share their experiences with us. This will help us rapidly find out who will benefit most from the new treatments, so they can be given to the right people when they get sick.”

Who is eligible to take part?

To take part, participants need to have had a positive COVID-19 test (either a lateral flow or PCR test), and be within five days of symptom onset. Participants must also be aged 50 or over, or aged 18 or over with a listed pre-existing condition.

People who test positive and meet the eligibility criteria can sign up directly via the study website (www.panoramictrial.org) or by calling 0808 156 0017.

All participants take part from the comfort of their own homes – with the study treatment delivered by courier and no face-to-face visits required.

A relatively expensive but "game-changing" anti-cholesterol drug could soon be offered to hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales on the NHS.

NHS England says inclisiran, given as a twice-a-year injection, could save about 30,000 lives within a decade.

It normally costs nearly £2,000 per dose but Novartis, which makes it, has agreed an undisclosed discount.

It can lower bad fat in the blood when other cheaper drugs, like statins, have not done enough, says draft advice.

The health watchdog NICE is recommending it as an option for people who have already had a stroke or heart attack and are not responding to other cholesterol-lowering treatments.

Experts hope it will help to cut their risk of further life-threatening cardiovascular events.

The drug works by silencing (turning off) a gene known as PCSK9, which is a key factor in the absorption of LDL cholesterol from the blood in the liver before breaking it down.

It can be used on its own or alongside statins.

Today’s decision follows agreement on a population-level commercial deal between NHS England and NHS Improvement and Novartis which will make inclisiran available with a discount to its list price.

Inclisiran can be given in primary care settings as a twice-yearly injection to people with high cholesterol who have already had a previous cardiovascular event to reduce the chances of them having another. It can be used on its own or alongside statins or other cholesterol lowering drugs.

Inclisiran works in a new way. It is the first of a new type of cholesterol-lowering treatment which uses RNA interference (RNAi) to boost the liver’s ability to remove harmful cholesterol from the blood.

People with primary hypercholesterolaemia and people who have abnormally high levels of fats in their blood called mixed dyslipidaemia are at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Current standard treatment includes dietary changes, statins and other cholesterol lowering drugs, alone or in combination.

Clinical trial evidence shows that inclisiran may help lower cholesterol levels when other treatments have not reduced them enough. However, there is no data directly comparing inclisiran with the other treatments, ezetimibe, alirocumab or evolocumab. There is also no long term evidence yet on inclisiran’s effect on cardiovascular outcomes.

Despite these uncertainties, inclisiran is still considered cost-effective in people who have previously had a cardiovascular event and whose cholesterol levels remain high after they have had the maximum tolerated lipid‑lowering therapy.

In people who have never had a cardiovascular event, the cost-effectiveness estimates were very uncertain and likely to be above what NICE considers an acceptable use of NHS resources. But a clinical trial is planned that will look at whether inclisiran reduces cardiovascular events in this population. So in this population, inclisiran is recommended for use in research trials.

The roll out of the highly effective drug is touted as being a game changer and eventually result in a saving of money for the NHS due to less people requiring treatment for cholesterol related diseases which cause premature deaths from heart attack and liver failure.

Salford Community Leisure is the first to launch ‘WelcoMe’, an online tool and app to enable people with disabilities and special needs to have positive experiences when visiting gym and sports venues. The app is currently being used by national retailers and some key tourist destinations.

The App is being piloted by Sport England across a number of UK leisure operators, with Salford being the first to go live with the service by integrating the technology into its front-of-house systems.

WelcoMe helps disabled people plan ahead and be in control of their visits by contacting venues before their arrival, alerting sports and leisure teams of any special requirements or assistance needed. Users of Salford Community Leisure (SCL), a local leisure provider that manages eight gyms, six pools and a water sports centre amongst many other venues, will be able to build their own profile with details of their specific needs and abilities prior to visiting one of the operator’s five facilities initially.

The app has been developed to make a difference to the lives of disabled people by taking away everyday challenges, increasing people’s confidence in visiting sports and leisure facilities and reducing the anxiety often brought on by visiting these venues. Users must alert venues a minimum of two hours before their visit so that the staff can ensure that they know exactly how to help the user by briefing team members, making preparations and getting any equipment ready to ensure a positive experience.

Once the user has confirmed the booking and plans, an alert is then sent to the leisure centre or sports facility with information about the visitor's disabilities, conditions and requirements.

There are clear benefits for sports and leisure centre staff as they receive real-time training on a wide range of impairments and are provided with clear guidance on how to interact with and assist customers directly related to their specific needs. SCL is at the forefront of inclusivity in the Greater Manchester region and already works in partnership with Unlimited Potential’s local Empower You scheme to assist a number of local disabled gym users and provide ongoing staff training.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety at Salford City Council, said the app would make a real difference to people’s confidence in using sports facilities.

He said:

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“It’s a quick and easy way to let staff know what support people need to get the most from their visit – and builds on a lot of work SCL has already done in training its staff to support people with disabilities or additional needs.”

Head of Sport at Salford Community Leisure, Garry Bateman, said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of the Sport England pilot for the introduction of this innovative app into the leisure sector. The new app is the perfect addition to our facilities and seeks to bridge the gap in the customer journey of someone with a disability in that both real and perceived barriers are addressed prior to the actual visit taking place. It builds the confidence of both the customer and our staff in ensuring that the visit is the very best experience it can be.”

 

Ben Andrews, project manager of Empower You by Unlimited Potential, an organisation that supports disabled people to access mainstream leisure provision across Salford, says:

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“Disabled people face significant barriers to accessing mainstream leisure facilities and venues. This app will help ease the anxiety many people feel in declaring their access and other needs in person. It will also help support a more aware leisure workforce. It's great to see the app adopted in Salford and is a fantastic asset for SCL and local people.” 

The mother of a Salford gym user, Sami Habib aged 20 from Eccles, who has Autism and Erbs Palsy and is supported by Empower You in Salford, comments about what she and her son think of the WelcoMe app.

Ferdy Habib, aged 47, says:

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“WelcoMe is a brilliant idea; knowing that the staff know in advance of a disabled person’s condition will reduce a lot of anxiety and makes things a lot easier not only for the disabled person but also for the people working at the leisure centres. It is respectful and reduces the stress that people can feel particularly if there is a queue at the leisure centre or sports venue. Sami just wants to get in the gym and get on with his training session rather than having to wait. To be welcomed in advance would also be a huge benefit as it would put Sami at ease and it would be good for him to know that someone knows who he is in advance. It’s important to realise that not everyone has visible disabilities. We look forward to this being used across SCL’s facilities.”

WelcoMe is now live at Irlam & Cadishead Leisure Centre and will be going live soon at four additional sports and leisure venues in Salford including Eccles Leisure Centre, Salford Watersports Centre, Swinton & Pendlebury Leisure Centre and Worsley Leisure Centre. In the meantime, any user of SCL’s gyms with a disability, condition or additional healthcare related needs can download the app free here

NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Salford City Council, and Salford Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) are working together to organise street teams made up of health and care staff, CVS staff, and local volunteers to provide information about where to get the Covid-19 vaccine and tested.

The street engagement is taking place for two weeks, from 28 June to 11 July 2021.

Salford has hit the milestone of administering more than 200,000 Covid-19 vaccines, but rates of the virus in the city is amongst the highest in England.

Dr Van Selvaraasan, GP and clinical lead for the Salford NHS Vaccination Service, said, 

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“I would like to thank everybody who has come forward for the Covid-19 vaccine and following the government guidance. Thank you for doing your part and know that you’ve made a huge difference in fighting this global pandemic together.

‘’But this battle isn’t over yet, please encourage your family and friends who are eligible now for the vaccine to get their jab as this is the only way forward to normality and protect each other.’’

 

Councillor John Merry, lead member for adult services, health and wellbeing said:

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“All through the pandemic we have seen Salford pulling together to keep people safe and I am very proud of the effort made by volunteers in the fight against the virus.. The vaccine is open to everyone as is testing to make sure you are not unknowingly spreading the virus. Please support our volunteers and our community by getting both doses of the vaccine and getting tested.”

The street teams are part of a programme of targeted outreach and engagement coordinated by Salford’s Health Improvement Service, focusing on areas of Salford experiencing the highest Covid-19 rates and encouraging as many people as possible to get the vaccine and take part of regular testing.

All adults in Salford are now able to book their vaccine through the Salford NHS vaccination service or by calling 0800 953 0116. People aged 16+ who have underlying health conditions or are carers, both paid and unpaid, are also eligible.

Alternatively, appointment can be booked through the national booking system or by attending one of the daily walk-in clinics being held across Salford.

A teacher who caught Covid-19 more than six months ago is urging eligible people to come forward for their vaccination as she continues to battle the long-lasting impact of Long Covid.

Heather Jones (51) lives in Clifton and is a teacher at a secondary school in Bolton. Heather caught Covid-19 back in November 2020 - just at the start of the second national lockdown - when she began to feel very tired before experiencing shivering and feeling hot at the same time. Initially putting it down to being a consequence of working in a school and picking up common bugs, Heather realised it was more serious when she’d lost her sense of smell and tested positive for Covid-19.

Four weeks later, Heather did begin to feel the virus was leaving her system – but she was not returning to her usual self and it soon became clear Heather had developed Long Covid, where the effects of Covid-19 continue for weeks or months after the infection has gone.

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“The fatigue never left me. About two months later, I started getting other symptoms and I realised my brain wasn’t really functioning as well. I’d get very confused, I wouldn’t be able to remember things, I’d get confused between what was a dream and what was a reality – which was pretty scary. I’d forget I even had siblings; I’d forget people existed.

“And that was the most terrifying thing because I didn’t know if that was ever going to come back.”

 

For a long time, Heather struggled to walk far and even short trips across the road from her house would mean her having to come back and sleep to recover. As well as the physical impact, Long Covid has impacted Heather’s mental health, as well as her financial security with having to take time off work.

She said:

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“Long Covid is so very difficult to recover from. You’re so used to an illness having a beginning and an end and you know it will end. With Long Covid you don’t know when it will end. It has absolutely been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to fight through.

“Long Covid really does impact every aspect of your life. It takes everything from you, everything that makes up who you are, it takes away from you. Nobody can come out of that unscathed mentally, nobody.”

 

Heather is now attending a Long Covid clinic provided by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, which offers a variety of support to people still suffering the effects of Covid-19 such as physio and mental health support. Fortunately for Heather, with the tools and information she’s received through the Long Covid clinic, she has not had a relapse.

Heather said:

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“I have to keep reminding myself that I’m one of the lucky ones. The fact that six months in, I can sit and talk about it, put coherent thoughts together is remarkable and means I am making progress – but I don’t know if it’ll last.”

“I would never wish anyone to suffer like I have. I never imagined the impact that Covid could have on me. I’ve had both my Covid-19 vaccines. It didn’t make me worse and I continue to improve. We aren’t going to get out of this unless enough people are vaccinated. Please do not let Covid destroy your life like it destroyed mine.”

 

To find out if you are eligible for your Covid vaccine, please go to www.salfordccg.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine

Salford has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infections with its rate as of today standing at 265.4 cases per 100,000 according to latest Public Health England data (a rise of 102%). This now means that Salford has the second highest rate in the region behind Bolton which has seen a 17% drop thanks to increased vaccinations.

As of Thursday 10th June, Salford Royal Hospital currently has 28 patients taking up beds due to Covid-19, two of which are being assisted by ventilation. 

137,091 residents have been given their first dose of a vaccine, with 93,822 having been administered with the second. There has been a total of 230,913 vaccinations given thus far.

The last recorded Covid related death at Salford Royal Hospital was recorded on the 25th of May.

There were 131 positive tests recorded today, 687 in the past week, which is a doubling on the previous week.

It should be noted that there is usually a delay of up to two weeks before rises in hospitalisations start to increase, as of yet though, hospitalisations remain low.

Meanwhile there is talk of up to four-week delay of the June 21st deadline for relaxation of lockdown rules due to the increase in infections as a result of the spread of the Delta (Indian) variant of the virus. The delay would allow for more people to receive their second dose of the vaccine to afford them better protection.

Despite increasing infections, hospitalisations and deaths have only increased fractionally, with NHS bosses claiming that their is clear evidence that vaccines have broken the link between rising cases and hospitalisations. Those currently being admitted are generally in younger age groups, or in those who are unvaccinated.

Earlier today the vaccine bus took station outside of Morrisons in Eccles, allowing all those eligible (25+) to get their first (Pfizer) jabs, no appointment needed.

It is vitally important to have your second vaccine when called up for it, this gives maximum protection.

Photo: Salford CCG  - Vaccine Bus at Morrisons in Eccles

A new NHS campaign, ‘Help BEAT Coronavirus’ has launched in Greater Manchester and East
Cheshire encouraging people to take part in research to help the NHS in the fight against COVID-19.

The campaign has been developed following the incredible public response to vaccine research
trials, where more than 30,000 people across the region have taken part in a range of nationally-
prioritised COVID-19 studies supported by NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester.

Help BEAT Coronavirus’ is part of Research for the Future, an NIHR Greater Manchester initiative
that helps people find out about and take part in health and care research. It joins their range of
other successfully ‘Help BEAT’ campaigns supporting research in a number of priority areas.

Professor Andy Ustianowski, National Clinical Lead for the UK NIHR COVID Vaccine research
Programme and joint National Specialty Lead for Infection at NIHR Clinical Research Network said:

Quote

“The success of the COVID 19 Vaccine in the UK is down to research and every person who volunteers.
We now have treatments, as a result of trials, for COVID that are saving lives. Clinical Research is
vital to fight this pandemic.  Everything that we do in medicine should be based on evidence and we
get this evidence from clinical trials. By signing up you are helping to discover new ways to prevent,
diagnose and manage COVID-19” 

Research helps to increase our understanding of how coronavirus is transmitted, how to treat
people who become infected and discover how best to help and support people living with Long
Covid.

Taking part in research means people are contributing to the NHS response to the global pandemic
by helping the NHS to find new vaccines and treatments for coronavirus (COVID-19).

After registering with the service, people will receive detailed information about research taking
place in their area, along with details of how to take part. As well as taking part in vaccine and drug
trials, there are plenty of other ways people can get involved in research, for example taking part in
discussion groups to share their experiences of lockdown or completing surveys about healthcare
during the pandemic.

The easiest way to register your interest is online, by visiting the Research for the Future website at
www.researchforthfuture.org.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today announced that the COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen meets the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. The independent Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has reviewed the MHRA’s decision and endorsed it.

Earlier this year, the single-dose vaccine was shown to be 67% effective overall in preventing COVID-19 infection and 85% effective in preventing severe disease or hospitalisation.

The vaccine can be stored at fridge temperatures, between 2 and 8 degrees, making it ideal for distribution to care homes and other locations across the UK.

Through the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce, 20 million doses of the vaccine have been secured for all 4 nations of the UK and first deliveries are expected to arrive from later this year.

The vaccination programme continues at pace and remains on track to offer a jab to all adults by the end of July.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

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This is a further boost to the UK’s hugely successful vaccination programme, which has already saved over 13,000 lives, and means that we now have 4 safe and effective vaccines approved to help protect people from this awful virus.

As Janssen is a single-dose vaccine, it will play an important role in the months to come as we redouble our efforts to encourage everyone to get their jabs and potentially begin a booster programme later this year.

 

 

As with all vaccines, the government is in regular contact with the manufacturers, including exploring how best to optimise supply across the current programme and preparing for a potential booster programme from later this year. Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine is part of the Cov-Boost study to assess its safety and effectiveness as the third dose of a potential booster programme.

Alongside this, the government is working with the devolved administrations to ensure the vaccine is deployed fairly across the UK.

The Vaccine Taskforce originally secured 30 million doses of the Janssen vaccine last year, based on the predicted clinical need at the time. With the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme continuing at an unprecedented scale and pace, the government has decided to amend its original order to 20 million.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will submit updated advice for the Janssen vaccine before doses become available.

The company continues to explore a 2-dose regimen of their vaccine. The single-dose regimen has also been authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The government is preparing for a booster programme based on clinical need and will publish further details in due course. The final policy will be informed by advice from the JCVI and take into account the results of clinical trials.

Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:

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The Janssen vaccine will be another weapon in our arsenal to beat this pandemic.

We are doing everything we can to vaccinate all adults as quickly as possible and I encourage everybody to come forward for a jab as soon as they are eligible.

 

 

Vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 symptoms. Vaccinated people are even more unlikely to get serious COVID-19, to be admitted to hospital, or to die from it, and there is growing evidence that vaccinated people are less likely to pass the virus to others.

Positive cases of Covid-19 continue upwards with a slight rise in Salford as a further 60 people test positive for the virus today (Thursday 27th), However it is not all bad news as Public Health England (PHE) estimates that 13,200 deaths have now been prevented in people aged 60 years or older in England up to 13 May 2021 (11,200 deaths in individuals aged 80 years and older, 1,700 in individuals aged 70 to 79 and 300 in individuals aged 60 to 69 years).

As of today there is just a single patient reported as being on ventilation at Salford Royal Hospital and a further 22 admitted with the virus, additionally there were just 4 admissions between 16/05 and 23/05 and the last recorded death at the hospital was on May 9th.

Overall things in Salford are looking fairly positive but it is vitally important to continue to abide by the social distancing rules in order to ensure that remains so. It clearly shows that vaccination is working and we would recommend anyone who is eligible and has not yet had one to come forward as the numbers speak for themselves.

Nationally, the Government estimates also indicate that the vaccination programme has prevented around 39,700 hospitalisations in those aged 65 years and over in England (approximately 4,900 admissions in those aged 65 to 74, 15,600 in those aged 75 to 84 and 19,200 in those aged 85 and over).

The method for analysing the approximate number of deaths and hospitalisations prevented by the vaccine programme now takes into account the impact of both first and second doses, due to more data being available. However, it does not include the impact of vaccination on transmission, therefore the true impact of the vaccination programme is likely to be even greater.

An updated analysis including nearly 3,000 symptomatic cases of B.1.617.2 provides further confidence that 2 doses of either vaccine are highly effective against the variant first identified in India.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at PHE, said:

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This analysis gives further confidence that 2 doses of the vaccine provide vital protection against the variants in circulation in the UK, so it is important to book your second jab when invited, to gain maximum protection.

The vaccines are very safe and very effective, and they will protect you and those around you from becoming seriously ill.

 

Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant is similar after 2 doses compared to the B.1.1.7 (Kent) variant dominant in the UK, and we expect to see even higher levels of effectiveness against hospitalisation and death.

The study found that, for the period from 5 April to 16 May:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant 2 weeks after the second dose, compared to 93% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
• 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were 60% effective against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant compared to 66% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
• both vaccines were 33% effective against symptomatic disease from B.1.617.2, 3 weeks after the first dose compared to around 50% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant
•  

The analysis included data for all age groups from 5 April to cover the period since the B.1.617.2 variant emerged. It included 1,054 people confirmed as having the B.1.617.2 variant through genomic sequencing, including participants of several ethnicities. Data published on Thursday 20 May for vaccine effectiveness covered the period since December for those aged over 65.

The difference in effectiveness between the vaccines after 2 doses may be explained by the fact that rollout of second doses of AstraZeneca was later than for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and other data on antibody profiles show it takes longer to reach maximum effectiveness with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As with other variants, even higher levels of effectiveness are expected against hospitalisation and death. There are currently insufficient cases and follow-up periods to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes from the B.1.617.2 variant. PHE will continue to evaluate this over the coming weeks.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

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This new evidence is groundbreaking – and proves just how valuable our COVID-19 vaccination programme is in protecting the people we love.

We can now be confident that over 20 million people – more than 1 in 3 – have significant protection against this new variant, and that number is growing by the hundreds of thousands every single day as more and more people get that vital second dose. I want to thank the scientists and clinicians who have been working around the clock to produce this research.

It’s clear how important the second dose is to secure the strongest possible protection against COVID-19 and its variants – and I urge everyone to book in their jab when offered.

 

 

Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said:

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This study provides reassurance that 2 doses of either vaccine offer high levels of protection against symptomatic disease from the B.1.617.2 variant.

We expect the vaccines to be even more effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, so it is vital to get both doses to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.

 

 

Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said:

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Almost every day we get more and more encouraging evidence about the difference our COVID-19 vaccines are making to people’s lives – with 13,000 lives saved and 39,100 hospitalisations prevented overall.

Today’s data is astounding and a true reflection of just how important it is to get both your jabs when offered.

I encourage all those offered an appointment to get their jab booked in as soon as possible and take full advantage of the high levels of protection the vaccines bring.

 

 

Separate PHE analysis indicates that the COVID-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented 13,000 deaths and around 39,100 hospitalisations in older people in England, up to 9 May.

New government-funded clinical trial looking at different COVID-19 ‘booster’ vaccines launches in the UK

Initial results trialling seven vaccines expected in September to inform plans for booster programme

Clinical trials on agenda for G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting in early June which Health Secretary announces will be hosted in Oxford

Announcements come ahead of International Clinical Trials Day (Thursday 20 May 2021)

Thousands of volunteers will receive a booster COVID-19 vaccine in a new clinical trial launching today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.

The Cov-Boost study, led by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and backed by £19.3 million of government funding through the Vaccines Taskforce, will trial seven vaccines and will be the first in the world to provide vital data on the impact of a third dose on patients’ immune responses.

It will give scientists from around the globe and the experts behind the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme a better idea of the impact of a booster dose of each vaccine in protecting individuals from the virus.

The study will take place at 16 NIHR-supported sites across England, and also within Health and Care Research Wales and NHS Research Scotland sites. It will include a total of 2,886 patients and participants are to begin being vaccinated from early June.

All participants will be monitored throughout the study for any side effects and will have bloods taken to measure their immune responses at days 28, 84, 308 and 365, with a small number having additional blood tests at other times. All sites will have an electronic diary for all participants that will send alerts to the team in real time if needed and a 24-hour emergency phone to a doctor on the study, who can provide further clinical advice.

The initial findings, expected in September, will help inform decisions by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on plans for a booster programme from autumn this year, ensuring the country’s most vulnerable are given the strongest possible protection over the winter period.

The Health Secretary has also announced that the 2021 G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting will be held in-person at Oxford University on 3-4 June. As part of the UK’s G7 Presidency, we are bringing together health leaders from the world’s leading democracies to agree life-saving action in the critical areas of clinical trials, global health security, antimicrobial resistance, and digital health to help protect us all from future pandemics.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock said:

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The UK vaccination programme has been a phenomenal national effort, with seven in 10 UK adults now having had their first COVID-19 jab. It is vital that we continue to support the world-renowned British research sector that has contributed to its success.

We will do everything we can to future-proof this country from pandemics and other threats to our health security, and the data from this world-first clinical trial will help shape the plans for our booster programme later this year.

I urge everyone who has had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and is eligible, to sign up for this study and play a part in protecting the most vulnerable people in this country and around the world for months and years to come.

 

The trial will look at seven different COVID-19 vaccines as potential boosters, given at least 10 to 12 weeks after a second dose as part of the ongoing vaccination programme. One booster will be provided to each volunteer and could be a different brand to the one they were originally vaccinated with.

Vaccines being trialled include Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Valneva, Janssen and Curevac, as well as a control group. The trial has received ethics approval by the NHS Research Ethics Committee, as well as approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The study will open for applications from volunteers shortly via the study’s website and will be recruiting participants through the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry.

Participants will be adults aged 30 years or older as these will have been those immunised early on in the vaccination programme - for example, adults aged 75 and over or health and care workers.

The trial was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and funded by the Vaccine Taskforce, with the study being undertaken by the Southampton team at sites across the UK as part of the National Immunisation Schedule Evaluation Consortium (NISEC).

The team leading the trial is committed to including participants from a wide variety of backgrounds, and individuals from ethnic minorities are encouraged to apply to take part.

Chief Investigator and Director of NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility Professor Saul Faust said:

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This trial will give the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation the important data to inform their recommendations of how to protect the population against any future wave.

It is fantastic that so many people across the country have taken part in vaccine trials up to now so that we can be in a position to study the effects of boosters, and we hope that as many people as possible over the age of 30 who received their first dose early in the NHS programme will be able to take part.

The UK’s vaccination programme continues at record pace, with over 57.8 million vaccines administered in total – 36.9 million first doses, which amounts to seven in 10 UK adults being given one jab - and 20.8 million second doses, which gives people even stronger protection.

 

The government is preparing for a booster programme based on clinical need and will publish further details in due course. The final policy will be informed by advice from the JCVI and take into account the results of clinical trials.

Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said:

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With over 57 million vaccines administered since the beginning of the rollout, the programme continues its fantastic trajectory.

Having taken part in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial myself, I would encourage everyone eligible to volunteer – whatever your religion, ethnicity or background, it’s a fantastic opportunity to get involved with such an historic initiative.

 

Earlier this year, the government announced the launch of the ComCov clinical trial, which aims to determine the effects of using different vaccines for the first and second dose - for example, using Oxford/AstraZeneca’s vaccine for the first dose, followed by Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine for the second.

Initial results from this trial have shown that mixing the doses slightly increases the frequency of mild-to-moderate symptoms following vaccination, but there were no serious outcomes.

Further results from this clinical trial – including on the immune response in people who have two different vaccine doses – are expected over the coming months.

Professor Andrew Ustianowski, National Clinical Lead for the UK NIHR COVID-19 Vaccine Research Programme said:

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Throughout the pandemic, the National Institute for Health Research, the NHS and all of our research partners have helped to rollout vital studies to help us learn how to treat COVID-19 and develop effective vaccines.

The Cov-Boost study marks the next step forward in our efforts of understanding how to best protect the population and inform future vaccine booster programmes.

 

Since the launch of the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry, thousands of volunteers have been recruited to key vaccine studies, and we are confident we can call upon our nearly half a million strong community to help recruitment to this important trial.

NHS England has lowered the age required for people to get a coronavirus vaccine for the second time this week, having previously been dropped to 44. 

Those who are due to turn 42 by the 1st of July are also eligible to make an appointment under this latest phase of the rollout.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, 42, revealed the update on Twitter, expressing his excitement in being able to come forward for a vaccine himself.  

The new move will allow up to 1.3m more people to book their potentially life saving vaccine.

Greater Manchester hospitals have recorded zero deaths in the past week, although infection rates have risen slightly in Salford and three other areas within the region.

Despite schools, pubs and shops reopening, Salford has recorded only a marginal increase in cases but the public are being advised not to drop their guard and to continue to social distance and wear face masks where required.

Free rapid home test kits are available from the majority of chemists and at hubs around the city and the public is being asked to take regular tests to prevent further spread of the virus.

To date, the UK has vaccinated more than 33.7m people with their first dose and almost 12.9m with the second.

Mr Hancock said that the rollout had gone very very well, adding that now we are able to go that little bit further.

Social distancing guidelines still remain in place.