The first Covid-19 vaccine against two strains of the virus will be offered to adults over 50 and clinically vulnerable people as part of the UK’s autumn booster programme.
Moderna’s new bivalent vaccine, which works with the original Covid strain and the Omicron variant, will be part of the introduction from early September, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said.
The vaccine will be avilable for people over the age of 5 who are classified as most at risk from the virus, as will their household contacts, NHS frontline and care-home staff, and carers aged 16 or over.
The UK became the first nation to authorise the vaccine, described as “next generation” by experts, when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved it on Monday.
Mr Barclay said those eligible for the autumn booster would be contacted from early September.
“I have accepted the independent advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on which vaccines should be offered in this autumn’s booster programme," he said.
“This includes a Moderna bivalent vaccine that will target two different variants — the Omicron and original strain of Covid.
“Vaccines remain our best defence against Covid, and this safe and effective vaccine will broaden immunity and potentially improve protection against some variants as we learn to live with this virus.
“Our vaccine rollout to date has been world leading. It has already saved countless lives and reduced the pressure on the NHS [National Health Service].
“We will begin to contact those eligible from early September, and I would urge people to come forward as soon as they are invited so together we can keep each other safe and protect our NHS.”
World leaders with Covid-19 - in pictures
Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, described it as a “next generation Covid-19 vaccine” that will play an “important role in protecting people in the UK from Covid-19” over the winter.
“We are delighted with the MHRA’s authorisation of Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron, our next generation Covid-19 vaccine," Mr Bancel said.
“This represents the first authorisation of an Omicron-containing bivalent vaccine, further highlighting the dedication and leadership of the UK public health authorities in helping to end the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This bivalent vaccine has an important role to play in protecting people in the UK from Covid-19 as we enter the winter months.”
Moderna’s chief medical officer, Dr Paul Burton, earlier said the new vaccine could boost antibodies to such high levels that it could only be needed once a year.
The MHRA said that the vaccine’s side effects are the same as those seen in the original Moderna booster dose and were typically mild.
Coronavirus pandemic around the world - in pictures
Agcency Chief executive Dr June Raine said: “The first generation of Covid-19 vaccines being used in the UK continue to provide important protection against the disease and save lives.
“What this bivalent vaccine gives us is a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”
Prof Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the Commission on Human Medicine, an independent body sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care to advise ministers on medicinal products, said the vaccine was safe to use.
He said that since coronavirus is “continually evolving in order to evade the immunity provided by vaccines”, constant updates to the shots are needed.
Prof Pirmohamed said that a recent paper in the Lancet medical journal suggested coronavirus vaccines had prevented up to 20 million deaths in their first year of use.
UK approves world's first variant-adapted Covid vaccine - video
Stephen Evans, pharmacoepidemiology professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the vaccine was based on the original Moderna shot, which was developed to also fight Omicron.
“This vaccine contains two components; the first is the original Moderna Covid vaccine for which there is both very large clinical trial data and massive experience after its introduction in many countries including the UK," Prof Evans said.
“The second is a modification of that original vaccine targeted at the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2, which is a new component.”
Moderna said it has also completed its applications for regulatory approval of the booster in Australia, Canada and the EU.
The Royal College of General Practitioners said that participation in the Covid vaccination programme for GP practices is optional and many have taken part.
Some practices which have been dealing with intense workloads and workforce pressures may have felt unable to take part, it added.
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1. Fasting
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Brief scores:
Kashima Antlers 0
River Plate 4
Zuculini 24', Martinez 73', 90 2', Borre 89' (pen)
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Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
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2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
