Scientists in the UK are testing a new vaccine booster shot which they believe could offer greater protection against Covid-19 variants.
It is hoped that the new drug, GRT-R910, can boost the immune response of first-generation coronavirus vaccines.
The trial, which is being held in Manchester, will involve participants aged 60 and over.
First to receive the trial shots were retired NHS nurse Helen Clarke, 64, and her husband, Andrew, 63, from Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Mrs Clarke said: “I used to work in the NHS and had been involved in research as a nurse in the past.
“We’ve been amazed how quickly a vaccine was made and approved, and that couldn’t happen without volunteers.”
Mr Clarke added: “Somebody has to be the first and we’re confident in the science and technology behind this vaccine and convinced of the need for it.
“Because we’re both retired, we feel we had a reasonably easy lockdown, but we know it wasn’t the same for everybody.
“We feel that this is perhaps a small part we can play in helping to make things change.”
The trial is expected to recruit 20 more volunteers, with results expected early next year.
The trials are taking place at the National Institute for Health Research Manchester Clinical Research Facility (NIHR MCRF) at Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Prof Andrew Ustianowski, of Manchester University, one of the clinical leads of the study, said: “We now know the immune response to first-generation vaccines can wane, particularly in older people.
“Coupled with the prevalence of emerging variants, there is a clear need for continued vigilance to keep Covid-19 at bay.
“We think GRT-R910 as a booster vaccination will elicit strong, durable and broad immune responses, which are likely to be critical in maintaining protection of this vulnerable elderly population who are particularly at risk of hospitalisation and death.”
The research is a collaboration between US pharmaceutical company Gritstone, the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
GRT-R910 is a self-amplifying mRNA second generation Sars-CoV-2 vaccine — or SAM for short.
We now know the immune response to first-generation vaccines can wane, particularly in older people.
Prof Andrew Ustianowski,
Manchester University
SAM vaccines may offer the opportunity of lowering vaccine doses or eliminating the need for repeat administrations with the potential for durable and broad immune responses across Sars-CoV-2 variants.
Such vaccines work by inducing special immune cells (CD8+ T cells), an important arm of the body’s immune response to viruses, as well as antibodies to neutralise the virus and prevent it binding to and infecting cells.
Dr Andrew Allen, co-founder and president of Gritstone, said: “Our hypothesis is that a different vaccine such as GRT-R910 might complement the primary immune response from pre-existing vaccination with a first-generation Covid vaccine in such a way that it would provide more benefit than an additional dose of the same vaccine.”
The study will examine dose, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of GRT-R910 at two dose levels at least four months after the second administration of their initial vaccine.
GRT-R910 is also being investigated as part of a US National Institute of Health-sponsored Phase 1 study.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Scotland 371-5, 50 overs (C MacLeod 140 no, K Coetzer 58, G Munsey 55)
England 365 all out, 48.5 overs (J Bairstow 105, A Hales 52; M Watt 3-55)
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One in four Americans don't plan to retire
Nearly a quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals' retirement plans and the realities of ageing in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they'd like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, 23 per cent of workers, including nearly two in 10 of those over 50, don't expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about one in five people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June. The study surveyed 1,423 adults in February this year.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," says Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Centre for Retirement Research at Boston College. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14 per cent of Americans under the age of 50 and 29 per cent over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another four in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared.
"One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn't save a whole lot of money," says Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to "banging my head against a wall." Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon. "Sometimes I fantasise that if I win the lottery, I'd go back to New York," says Ms Bennett.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
