Rush for Covid-19 boosters as Northampton and Kettering NHS hospitals brace for staff shortages amid rise in Omicron cases

Rush for Covid-19 boosters as Northampton and Kettering NHS hospitals brace for staff shortages amid rise in Omicron cases A rush for booster jabs in the run-up to Christmas has been welcomed by health chiefs as Northamptonshire hospitals deal with more Covid-19 patients. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Covid-19: Shielding women say their lives are still on hold BBC News
• Northamptonshire: Army help to boost Covid vaccination programme BBC Northampton
• The 3 options Boris Johnson is considering to limit Omicron Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• People who get Covid after vaccination have ‘super immunity’, study claims Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Health Secretary Sajid Javid refuses to rule out post-Christmas lockdown restrictions amid Omicron spread Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Lateral flow tests should be taken just before meeting others due to Omicron infectiousness, says expert Northamptonshire Telegraph
• NHS denies first UK Omicron victim died in Northampton hospital Northants Live

University students set up toy donation drive to cheer up children in hospital in Northampton for Christmas

University students set up toy donation drive to cheer up children in hospital in Northampton for Christmas A toy donation drive organised by kind-hearted university students has put smiles on the faces of children who will spend Christmas in hospital in Northampton. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Going it alone: health and Brexit in the UK

Going it alone: health and Brexit in the UK After nearly a year out of the Single Market and Customs Union, Brexit is still fuelling uncertainty in many aspects of health and social care. This report looks at six key areas that are being impacted, what has already happened and what NHS, government and business figures expect for the future. Nuffield Trust

See also:

• Slow decisions and vague trade slogans leave NHS uncertain of post-Brexit future Nuffield Trust

Four lessons the pandemic has taught us about health data

Four lessons the pandemic has taught us about health data Data has played a critical role during the pandemic. It’s helped to assess the impact of new treatments, track trends in the quality of care, and identify the needs of the most vulnerable. The government publishing data about the number of cases, hospitalisations and deaths has also been an important way for the media and public to track the impact of COVID-19.

As the UK slowly emerges from the pandemic, data can play a similarly significant role. The Health Foundation

See also:

• Networked Data Lab: using linked data to tackle health and care challenges The Health Foundation

NHS delivers ‘super Saturday’ as COVID booster jabs soar

NHS delivers ‘super Saturday’ as COVID booster jabs soar The NHS delivered another record-breaking day for booster jabs with more than 830,000 reported on ‘super Saturday’ as the NHS booster programme continues at pace.

A total of 830,403 boosters were delivered and 906,656 vaccinations altogether, including more first and second vaccinations – both records for the programme. NHS England

See also:

• £22.5m of funding announced in new community push to get nation boosted now Department of Health and Social Care
• More than half of over 18s boosted against COVID-19 Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS Steps Up To Booster Challenge With Week Of Records NHS England
• Research: COVID-19 vaccine: estimated coverage for people aged 18 and over UK Health Security Agency
• Research: COVID-19: Omicron daily overview UK Health Security Agency

Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drug

Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drug A new Covid drug designed to reduce the risk of vulnerable patients needing hospital treatment will be available on the NHS from today.

Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody given as a transfusion to transplant recipients, cancer patients and other high-risk groups.

If given quickly after symptoms develop it is should help prevent people from falling seriously ill with the disease. BBC News

See also:

• Christmas lockdown: Javid does not rule out new restrictions BBC News
• Covid: More measures needed to limit hospitalisations - Sage scientists BBC News
• First estimate of booster jab impact on Omicron BBC News
• Omicron: Sadiq Khan declares major incident in London BBC News
• Covid: 'We're not looking forward to doing it all again' BBC News
• Covid: Omicron now dominant in England - health experts BBC News
• Ros Atkins on… What 2021 taught us about Covid BBC News
• Is UK heading for New Year lockdown? Professor Neil Ferguson: 5,000 Omicron deaths a DAY The Daily Mail
• Around 936,000 people in England had Covid last week, according to official data The Daily Mail
• NHS is forced to drop rules self-isolation rules for vaccinated staff The Daily Mail
• Sajid Javid hits out at unvaccinated for ‘taking up hospital beds’ The Guardian
• Why a UK Omicron wave is dangerous – even if we see mostly mild cases The Guardian
• England hospital units may close as staff revolt over jab mandate, says NHS leader The Guardian
• The science is clear: the case for more Covid restrictions is overwhelming The Guardian
• Covid patients to be treated in virtual wards at home as NHS staff self-isolate due to Omicron variant iNews
• COVID-19: Warning of NHS staffing 'catastrophe' as one in three London workers could be off by January Sky News

Alzheimer's drug aducanumab not approved for use in EU

Alzheimer's drug aducanumab not approved for use in EU The European Medicines Agency has said no to approving a new drug for Alzheimer's disease in the EU.

Aducanumab does not appear to be effective at treating adults with early-stage symptoms, the EMA said.

Alzheimer's charities say they are disappointed by the decision because thousands of people are left with no treatment options. BBC News 

A dangerous lie is stalking the NHS: that it is no longer fit for purpose

A dangerous lie is stalking the NHS: that it is no longer fit for purpose | Sonia Sodha Painting the health service as inefficient ignores a decade of chronic underfunding.

Each time I’ve gone for a Covid jab, I’ve walked out with a warm glow. It wasn’t just relief to have the protection, or awe at the scientific feats that were pulled off to get a vaccine in my arm, but a sense of national pride in the NHS, an institution that is collectively ours, there for us in good times and bad. Just seeing the NHS’s distinctive blue-and-white logo is enough to make my heart swell a little. The Guardian