“You can’t outrun a bad diet,” Henry Dimbleby writes in the National Food Strategy, in a discussion of England’s obesity crisis. Dimbleby emphasises that when it comes to obesity and […]
Guest writers
Emergency use authorisation of covid-19 vaccines in children is appropriate and necessary
In May 2021, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine to adolescents aged 12-17. [1] Moderna announced that clinical trials […]
The pros and cons of “Freedom Day”—a view from immunology
Currently, there is much discussion of the UK government’s vision to end all covid-19 restrictions in England on 19 July, so-called Freedom Day. This is the endpoint of the UK […]
Covid-19 vaccines for children: hypothetical benefits to adults do not outweigh risks to children
As the majority of adults in multiple rich western countries have now received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine, the focus is turning to children. While there is […]
How government messaging is undermining the covid-19 response
All the changes currently being made amount to a massive disinformation campaign that undermines the conditions for informed decision-making, says Stephen Reicher […]
Fresh air unmasked
As the UK government announce an end to covid-19 restrictions in England, Christine Peters and Tom Lawton discuss why they will still be wearing a mask Masked or unmasked? That […]
Kit Yates: The dangers of allowing exponential growth
What is exponential growth, and why is it relevant to epidemics? Kit Yates explains Although the concept of exponential growth is not new in the public consciousness, a lot of […]
Why all the secrecy around Innova lateral flow tests?
The basis for the MHRA extending its exceptional use authorisation for Innova lateral flow tests must be published immediately if public trust is to be restored, say Allyson M Pollock […]
What’s next for local contact tracing? A view from Oxfordshire
Since they were established in August last year, local contact tracing partnerships (LTPs) have become a key part of the national test, trace, isolate, and support response in England. As […]
Covid-19: we need urgent action on overcrowded housing
In a recent announcement, the UK government promised that people who face difficult life circumstances, will receive more support to self-isolate if they have covid-19. Part of this package of […]