Plan now to speed vaccine supply for future pandemics

Plan now to speed vaccine supply for future pandemics: My main worry? The obstacles to getting pandemic vaccines out to the world when, and if, evidence of safety and efficacy do come in. Most of the logistics that will slow delivery are getting scant attention. We must plan for these, to speed things up without compromising safety.

What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 7 October

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 7 October: Top stories: Hope for a vaccine; two economic warnings; new restrictions in Europe.

Face masks: what the data say

Face masks: what the data say: The science supports that face coverings save lives, and yet the debate trundles on. How much evidence is enough?

Google Fact Check Tools

Fact Check Tools

What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 6 October

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 6 October: Top stories: President Trump returns to White House; COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries; IMF calls for infrastructure spending.

ContacTracingApp - find the Contact Tracing App for your country

ContacTracingApp - find the Contact Tracing App for your country

Great Barrington Declaration

Great Barrington Declaration: The most compassionate approach that balances the risks and benefits of reaching herd immunity, is to allow those who are at minimal risk of death to live their lives normally to build up immunity to the virus through natural infection, while better protecting those who are at highest risk. We call this Focused Protection.

Adopting measures to protect the vulnerable should be the central aim of public health responses to COVID-19. By way of example, nursing homes should use staff with acquired immunity and perform frequent PCR testing of other staff and all visitors. Staff rotation should be minimized. Retired people living at home should have groceries and other essentials delivered to their home. When possible, they should meet family members outside rather than inside. A comprehensive and detailed list of measures, including approaches to multi-generational households, can be implemented, and is well within the scope and capability of public health professionals.

Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to resume life as normal. Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and staying home when sick should be practiced by everyone to reduce the herd immunity threshold. Schools and universities should be open for in-person teaching. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, should be resumed. Young low-risk adults should work normally, rather than from home. Restaurants and other businesses should open. Arts, music, sport and other cultural activities should resume. People who are more at risk may participate if they wish, while society as a whole enjoys the protection conferred upon the vulnerable by those who have built up herd immunity.