Poor support for self-isolation undermines the UK's Covid vaccination effort

The more the virus is allowed to replicate in the community, the greater the risk of mutations that escape the vaccinesThe UK currently has no plan to eliminate coronavirus from our shores. Lockdown will minimise contacts and protect the NHS. Rapid distribution of vaccines will protect the vulnerable, until all adults receive the vaccine in the longer term. Then we can treat the virus like seasonal flu, with booster doses to protect against new variants. At Monday ’spress briefing, the deputy chief medical officer for England, Jonathan Van-Tam, confirmed as much.So the national strategy has not changed. In early February 2020, UK advisers on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), against World Health Organization advice,took the view that coronavirus, like influenza, could not be stopped. Ignoring UK coronavirus experts and effective country responses in Asia, they followed the rulebook for pandemic influenza.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Coronavirus Vaccines and immunisation Patrick Vallance Health Infectious diseases Politics Science Society UK news World news Source Type: news