The UK Response to Covid-19: Use of Scientific Advice
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Urgent SOS from Longcovid Sufferers
Recognition · Research · Rehab www.longcovidsos.org [email protected] @LongCovidSOS 07 July 2020 Urgent SOS from LongCovid sufferers To: Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, UK Government Chief Medical Adviser Dr Patrick Vallance, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Mr Simon Stevens, Chief Executive Officer NHS England John Connaghan CBE, Chief Executive NHS Scotland Mr Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive NHS Wales Mrs Valerie Watts, Chief Executive of The Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland Mr Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive Public Health England We are writing on behalf of thousands of forgotten victims of Covid-19 who have been sick since the early days of the outbreak. They are struggling to get help from the medical community for their continuing disease and feel abandoned by the government. The Covid-19 pandemic is estimated by the ONS to have infected around 7% of the UK population [1], [2] or approximately 4.6 million people; other studies suggest that the proportion infected could be as high as 25% [3]. In the early stages of the UK epidemic, government briefings and press reports were focussed on those who had severe symptoms and were at risk of being admitted to intensive care. People who had what were described as ‘mild’ symptoms were advised to stay in place and only present to hospital if their condition became critical. As a result, a significant number of sufferers battled with their symptoms at home, relying on advice from 111 which was not always helpful. -
UK Set to Extend Coronavirus Lockdown 16 April 2020
UK set to extend coronavirus lockdown 16 April 2020 rules not to go out except for exercise and to buy essential items. "I don't want to put all of that good effort to waste," said Hancock, who himself has also had coronavirus but recovered quickly. "Because if we just released all the measures then this virus would run rampant once again, and we can't let that happen." He did not say how long the lockdown would continue, but the law states that the measures must be reviewed every 21 days. Credit: CC0 Public Domain England's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said Wednesday that the outbreak was peaking but warned the numbers of deaths would keep rising. The British government was on Thursday expected Health ministry figures show 12,868 people in to extend a nationwide lockdown for another three hospital in Britain have so far died, making it one of weeks, amid signs the coronavirus outbreak is the worst affected countries in the global outbreak. peaking but also warnings of more deaths to come. Testing concerns Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing The main opposition Labour party supports in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he extending the lockdown, but has called for the recuperates after spending a week in hospital with government to set out its exit strategy—a demand COVID-19, met with ministers and officials to ministers say is premature. finalise the plans. There are particular concerns about the slow An announcement is due later but the government expansion of testing for coronavirus, something has already said that, with the death toll many people believe is crucial to easing the approaching 13,000 and still rising, now is not the confinement measures. -
The Reaction to the SARS-Cov-2 Virus Is the Most Reckless and Grossly Irresponsible 'Public Health' Response in History
Elizabeth Hart <[email protected]> The reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the most reckless and grossly irresponsible 'public health' response in history Elizabeth Hart <[email protected]> Tue, Apr 6, 2021 at 9:42 PM Bcc: Elizabeth Hart <[email protected]> Please see below my email to Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty, UK Scientific and Medical Advisers, challenging them about the grossly disproportionate and ill-targeted response to SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19. This really is the most dire 'public health' response in history, and the bigger picture is very sinister. Elizabeth Hart Independent person investigating the over-use of vaccine products and conflicts of interest in vaccination policy ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Elizabeth Hart <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Apr 6, 2021 at 3:34 PM Subject: The reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the most reckless and grossly irresponsible 'public health' response in history To: Patrick Vallance, Chris Whitty Cc: Fiona Godlee, Sharon Davies, Peter Doshi, Kamran Abbasi, Theodora Bloom, Allyson Pollock, John Ioannidis, Simon Wain-Hobson, Richard Ebright, Marc Lipsitch, Michael Osterholm, Tom Inglesby, Carl Heneghan, Michael Levitt, Martin Kulldorff, Jayanta Bhattacharya, Sucharit Bhakdi, Gus Dalgleish, Karol Sikora, Anders Tegnell, Johan Giesecke, Ian Frazer, Peter Doherty, Peter Collignon, Roy Anderson, Peter Openshaw, Adrian Smith, David Cannadine, Venki Ramakrishnan, Andrew Goddard, Chris Conlon, Dan Sumners, John Shine, Robert Clancy, Sunetra Gupta, Andrew Pollard, Heidi Larson, Graham Medley, Melinda Mills, John Bell, David Kennedy, Andrew Read, Neil Ferguson For the attention of: Sir Patrick Vallance, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Chris Whitty, UK Chief Medical Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Whitty The reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the most reckless and grossly irresponsible 'public health' response in history. -
From the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael Mcbride by EMAIL To: All
From the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride BY EMAIL Castle Buildings Stormont Estate To: All NI Departments through the Civil BELFAST Contingencies Group, for onward distribution to BT4 3SQ all public authorities Tel: 028 9052 0563 Email: [email protected] Your Ref: Our Ref: Date: 26 February 2020 Dear Colleagues CORONAVIRUS: (A) KEY PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE (B) ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY PUBLIC AUTHORITIES 1 This letter updates the advice given in my letter of 6 February to all NI Departments and their public authorities, to reflect the recent changes in the case definition including reference to northern Italy. This letter supersedes the letter of 6 February. The purpose is to enable all NI Executive Departments and public authorities to prepare to respond to any and all potential eventualities arising from the current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It is essential that all Departments are assured that proportionate, appropriate and efficient arrangements are in place that are consistent with the key public health messages about novel coronavirus. 2 Each NI Department is asked to ensure that the letter is distributed to each public authority that they sponsor, including schools. Coronavirus: key facts 3 Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which cause illness in people, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS and SARS. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. The 2019 novel Coronavirus strain, now officially designated COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation, is a strain not previously seen in humans. On 31 December 2019 Chinese authorities notified the WHO of an outbreak of viral pneumonia in Wuhan City. -
From the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael Mcbride HSS(MD)93/2020
From the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride HSS(MD)93/2020 Castle Buildings Stormont Estate FOR ACTION BELFAST Chief Executives, Public Health Agency/Health and Social BT4 3SQ Care Board/HSC Trusts/ NIAS Tel: 028 9052 0563 GP Medical Advisers, Health & Social Care Board Email: [email protected] All General Practitioners and GP Locums (for onward distribution to practice staff) OOHs Medical Managers (for onward distribution to staff) Our Ref: HSS(MD)93/2020 RQIA Date: 30 December 2020 PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FULL CIRCULATION LIST Dear Colleague DEPLOYMENT OF THE ASTRAZENECA COVID-19 VACCINE IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND UPDATED JCVI ADVICE ON COVID-19 VACCINES ACTION REQUIRED Chief Executives must ensure this information is drawn to the attention of all staff involved in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The PHA must ensure this information is cascaded to their staff working on COVID-19 vaccine deployment and the health protection team. The HSCB must ensure this information is cascaded to all General Practitioners and practice managers for onward distribution to all staff involved in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. INTRODUCTION 1. You will be aware that on 30 December the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca/Oxford, was granted approval for use following a thorough review carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In addition to this announcement the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have also issued further updated advice in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination programme. 2. This letter sets out a broad overview of how the AstraZeneca vaccine will be deployed and highlights some of the updated advice from JCVI, particularly in relation to the intervals between doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines. -
Open Letter to the ICO, Cmos and UK Data Providers: Reducing Barriers to Data Access for Research in the Public Interest – Lessons from COVID-19
Open letter to the ICO, CMOs and UK data providers: Reducing barriers to data access for research in the public interest – lessons from COVID-19 Dear Ms Elizabeth Denham CBE, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, Dr Frank Atherton, Dr Gregor Smith, Dr Michael McBride, Ms Sarah Wilkinson, Rt Hon. Gavin Williamson MP, Sir Ian Diamond, Prof David Ford, Prof Kerina Jones, Prof Ronan Lyons, Ms Siobhan Carey CBE, Mr Roger Halliday, Mr Frank Hester OBE, Dr Janet Valentine, and Mr Duncan Selbie, Letter sent by email on 6th July 2020 The COVID-19 outbreak has sparked increased awareness of the importance of timely, system-wide data for examining trends and modelling different scenarios to inform policy response.1-5 The scale and speed of data access and use has been unprecedented in public health history. Pre-print articles sharing results before peer review have proliferated (with implications for research quality6 7) and over 500 vaccine and treatment clinical trials have been initiated in record time.8 The entire economy of knowledge production related to COVID-19 has been accelerated, with the understanding that, if we wait for perfect information before acting, we will be too late. COVID-19 is providing valuable lessons on improving data access and the importance of using data for efficient and effective service response. This situation contrasts sharply with the cumbersome processes usually faced by researchers using administrative (or routinely-collected) health data to inform policy-making on other topics, resulting from systems that are not purpose-built for research and summarised by four key obstacles. First, the cost of using administrative data is prohibitive. -
COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis 5Th Jun 2020
COVID-19 Lockdown Exit Analysis 5th Jun 2020 News Highlights Encouraging signs as Spain reports zero deaths for second day running Spain, one of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus with 27,127 deaths, reported zero deaths for the second day in a row, amidst signs that the country has seen off the worst. At the peak of the pandemic, Spain saw hundreds of deaths every day from the virus. UK lockdown brings cleaner air and relief for asthma sufferers Millions of people suffering from respiratory conditions like asthma may have benefited from the cleaner air and clearer skies with the halting of industry and reduction of traffic due to the UK lockdown. According to the British Lung Foundation, a survey of 14,000 people with lung conditions revealed that one-in-four asthmatics felt relief in their symptoms with children seeming to benefit the most. AstraZeneca inks deal with partners to produce and distribute vaccine The drug company AstraZeneca stated it intends to partner with CEPI and Gavi to manufacture and distribute 300 million doses of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine created by Oxford University, if the vaccine is shown to be safe and effective. AstraZeneca also reached a licensing agreement with the Serum Institute of India, which has committed to providing 400 million vaccine doses to low and middle income countries by 2020 end. Exemptions for film crew sparks furore in New Zealand Director James Cameron and 55 crew members of the film 'Avatar 2' flew into New Zealand under a recently announced exemption based on economic value, while thousands who already have temporary visas are unable to enter. -
Medical Research Council Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07 HC 93
06/07 Annual Report and Accounts © Crown Copyright 2006 The text in this document (excluding any Royal Arms and departmental logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Any queries relating to the copyright in this document should be addressed to The Licensing Division, HMSO, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich, NR3 1BQ. Fax: 01603 723000 or e-mail: licensing@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk 2 MRC Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07 Medical Research Council Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State, and by the Comptroller and Auditor General in pursuance of Schedule I, Sections 2(2) and 3(3) of the Science and Technology Act 1965. Sir John Chisholm Chairman Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Ordered by and printed on London: The Stationery Office 6 February 2008 Price: £18.55 HC 93 The Medical Research Council The MRC RCUK The Medical Research Council (MRC) was set up in 1913 to administer Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a partnership of the seven (formerly public funds for medical research. It was incorporated under its eight) UK Research Councils – public bodies funded mainly by the UK present title by Royal Charter in 1920. A supplemental charter was Government via OSI. granted in 1993 describing the MRC’s new mission following the 1993 government white paper on science and technology. -
Supporting Doctors Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic
12 January 2021 Supporting doctors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Dear Colleagues This year has started in a way we could all have barely imagined 12 months ago, and we wanted to write to thank all of you for your immense efforts. After the long ordeal of last year, we enter the New Year with the real hope that vaccination offers to control COVID and the very substantial impact that it has had on health, lives and livelihoods but with a significant surge in cases to deal with before that begins to take effect. There are many weeks ahead that are likely to be among the most challenging of all our professional lives. Doctors will be faced with many professional dilemmas and some may be pushed to the limits of physical and mental endurance. Please look after your colleagues - protracted, relentless crises are often much more draining than short intense ones. We wrote to you during the first wave of COVID-19 last Spring and again in the Autumn when infections once again began to rise. Those letters contained important advice concerning the application of clinical decisions in extreme circumstances and we would encourage you to read them if you have not already done so. We also append them for your information. Our view remains that clinical decision making must remain anchored in the principles of Good Medical Practice. This means it must also rightly take into account the realities of the situation in which we find ourselves. We would emphasise once again that a rational approach to varying practice in an emergency is part of a doctor’s professional response, and we would expect you to be professionally supported to do this. -
How and Why Patients Made Long Covid
Social Science & Medicine 268 (2021) 113426 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Social Science & Medicine journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/socscimed Short communication How and why patients made Long Covid Felicity Callard a,*, Elisa Perego b a University of Glasgow School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom b University College London Institute of Archaeology, UCL, United Kingdom ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Patients collectively made Long Covid – and cognate term ‘Long-haul Covid’ – in the first months of the Chronic illness pandemic. Patients, many with initially ‘mild’ illness, used various kinds of evidence and advocacy to demon Citizen science strate a longer, more complex course of illness than laid out in initial reports from Wuhan. Long Covid has a COVID-19 strong claim to be the first illness created through patients finding one another on Twitter: it moved from pa Long Covid tients, through various media, to formal clinical and policy channels in just a few months. This initial mapping of Long-hauler – – Patient activism Long Covid by two patients with this illness focuses on actors in the UK and USA and demonstrates how Patient groups patients marshalled epistemic authority. Patient knowledge needs to be incorporated into how COVID-19 is SARS-CoV-2 conceptualised, researched, and treated. Credit author statement developed different ways to conceptualize distress and recovery (Sweeney et al 2009); HIV/AIDS activists have changed how biomedical Felicity Callard, Elisa Perego: Conceptualization, Investigation, scientific research is conducted and how drugs are accessed (Robins, Writing - original draft preparation, Writing – Reviewing and editing 2004); those with long-term/chronic conditions have created patient knowledge and ways of living (Pols, 2013; Kingod, 2018); political or 1. -
Second SAGE Meeting on Wuhan Coronavirus, 28 January 2020 Held in 10 Victoria St, London SW1H 0NN
Addendum to the second SAGE meeting on Covid-19, 28 January 2020 Held in 10 Victoria St, London, SW1H 0NN This addendum clarifies the roles of the SAGE attendees listed in the minute. There are three categories of attendee. Scientific experts provide evidence and advice as part of the SAGE process. HMG attendees listen to this discussion, to help inform policy work, and are able to provide the scientific experts with context on the work of government where appropriate. The secretariat attends in an organisational capacity. The list of attendees is split into these groups below. Attendees: Scientific experts: Patrick Vallance (GCSA), Chris Whitty (CMO), Charlotte Watts (CSA DfID), Jonathan Van Tam (dCMO), John Aston (CSA HO), James Rubin (King’s College), Neil Ferguson (Imperial), Peter Horby (Oxford), Guy Poppy (CSA FSA), Carole Mundell (CSA FCO), Christine Middlemiss (CVO DEFRA), Jim McMenamin (Health Protection Scotland), Jeremy Farrar (Wellcome), David Lalloo (LSHTM), Maria Zambon (PHE), Andrew Rambaut (Edinburgh), Wendy Barclay (Imperial). Observers and Government Officials: Tasha Grant (CCS), Stuart Wainwright (GoS), Samantha Harris (GoS). Secretariat: [redacted] Names of junior officials and the secretariat are redacted. Participants who were Observers and Government Officials were not consistently recorded therefore this may not be the complete list. Second SAGE meeting on Wuhan Coronavirus, 28 January 2020 Held in 10 Victoria St, London SW1H 0NN Actions from previous meeting 1. DHSC to send PHE isolation plan to behavioural scientists (see further action below). 2. Others in train. Situation update 3. SAGE is responsible for coordinating science advice across HMG, including from NERVTAG. 4. SAGE agreed that SPI-M (Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling) is now a formal sub-group of SAGE for the duration of this outbreak. -
A Long-Term Plan for Long Covid | Institute for Global Change
A Long-Term Plan for Long Covid BRIANNA MILLER DANIEL SLEAT Contents Foreword 3 Overview 4 Our Original Recommendations 7 Further Recommendations 15 Conclusion 17 Published at https://institute.global/policy/long-term-plan-long- covid on March 12 2021 Foreword It is now clear that over 400,000 people in the UK suffer from the debilitating effects of ongL Covid or, as it is now called officially, Post-Covid-19 Syndrome, and a proportion of these will have symptoms FOREW persisting for some years. We know more about the problem than we did back in October when we FOREW launched the first eport.r We now have a working definition, but many aspects of its cause and ORD ORD mechanisms remain unclear. Unfortunately, although it is now well recognised, we have not progressed much in the treatment of the condition. The risk factors for the condition are now clearer and, although it can affect anyone of any age, we know that long-duration symptoms are more common with increasing age and in females. Studies from the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app show that having more than five different symptoms in the first week of the illness is a predictor of much increased risk. We urgently need to focus on treatment and trials of intervention, especially at three months to see if the immune cycle that prolongs symptoms can be broken. The government has invested some targeted funds for Long Covid, but these funds don’t match the scale of the problem. There are now some specialist clinical facilities around the country, but these are still patchy and too few in number and, importantly, patients and GPs lack a clear pathway to seek information and help via dedicated websites or apps.