Human challenge studies in the study of infectious diseases
What can deliberately infecting healthy people tell us about infectious diseases? How is this useful for developing treatments, and how do we manage the risks?
Immunity to Covid-19: March 2023 update
How do our bodies defend against Covid-19? Read how immune responses differ across people, variants, reinfection, vaccination, and current immunisation strategies.
Drug Therapies for COVID-19
Research studies involving thousands of people have allowed scientists to test which drugs are effective at treating COVID-19. Several drug therapies are now available to treat people who are in hospital with COVID-19, or to prevent infections in vulnerable people becoming more serious. This briefing explains which drugs are available, the groups of people in which they are used and how they work. It also outlines the importance of monitoring the emergence of new variants and drug resistance.
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Rapid response
The future of COVID-19 vaccines
A new generation of COVID-19 vaccines could support vaccination strategies in the long term. But what are the latest developments from preclinical and clinical trials?
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Rapid response
COVID-19: Omicron, recent developments, and the likely impact of future variants on the pandemic
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been found across the world since it was first detected in early November 2021. This article describes the characteristics of the variant and its health impacts. It also discusses vaccine effectiveness against the variant and the medium and long-term outlook for the future course of the pandemic.
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Rapid response
Addressing COVID-19 in the long-term – the role of immunisation
Immunisation strategies are one of the key elements to addressing the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 in the short- and long-term. What are the key factors to consider when developing long-term immunisation strategies? What are the key unknowns and how can they be addressed?
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Resource
COVID-19 glossary
View definitions for the most commonly used scientific terms relating to COVID-19, as well as a list of organisations involved in public health, their acronyms and descriptions of their work.
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Rapid response
Long COVID: The long-term health effects of COVID-19
What is Long COVID ? How many people are affected? What are the key challenges for diagnosis and treatment? What are the priority areas for research?
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Rapid response
COVID-19: The Omicron Variant
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has been found across the world since it was first detected in early November 2021. This article describes the characteristics of the variant, why scientists are concerned, and the possible impact that it might have on the course of the pandemic.
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Rapid response
Impact of COVID-19 on Early Childhood Education & Care
This rapid response presents current research on the impact of the pandemic on the ECEC sector in England and the impact of changes in access to ECEC on pre-school children.
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POSTnote
Children’s Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic
A POSTnote describing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health. This briefing summarises the latest understanding from research about the effects on children throughout the pandemic, and the factors that increase vulnerability to poor mental health. It also reviews policy approaches that seek to protect children's mental health, with particular focus on recent initiatives to address this.
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Rapid response
Immunising children against COVID-19
As the UK COVID-19 immunisation programme reaches all adults, the Government has announced an update to its policy on using a COVID-19 vaccine in children. So, how does COVID-19 affect children? What will the impact of vaccinating children be on preventing disease and minimising associated risks? And what do we know about public attitudes to using COVID-19 vaccines in children?
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POSTnote
Mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant public health concern, with a growing body of research describing the effects on the population since March 2020. This POSTnote summarises the key findings from research, highlights the groups most affected and their mental health outcomes, and the limitations of current knowledge. It also discusses policy approaches to protect mental health and how healthcare services can adapt to improve outcomes.
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Rapid response
How does the virus that causes COVID-19 spread?
What are the different mechanisms by which the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is transmitted from one person to another, how has the scientific thinking changed, and how can transmission be reduced?
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Rapid response
COVID-19 vaccine coverage and targeted interventions to improve vaccination uptake
The COVID-19 vaccination programme launched in January 2021. All adults over 18 have now been offered the vaccine, although it was reported that 1.3 million people who had been offered a vaccine had not received it. Some people are vaccine hesitant whilst others experience barriers to accessing vaccines. Targeted interventions have been promoted locally and nationally to improve vaccine uptake.
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