More than 3.5 million people in the UK have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine, according to the latest government figures.
That means an awfully large number of Britons will have to be vaccinated if the UK is to hit its target of all adults being inoculated by September.
Along with patchy regional supplies, reluctance to take the vaccine among certain cohorts will be an obstacle to achieving this goal.
Some of this reluctance stems from a fear of the unknown – and in a bid to assuage trepidation, the UK government has released comprehensive guidance on what people can expect after getting vaccinated.
This guide distils the key points at work in the UK.
Will I experience side effects from taking the vaccine?
Vaccines can cause side effects but the majority are mild and short term, says the guidance.
Common side effects include: fatigue, headaches, tenderness where the vaccine was administered, and mild flu-like symptoms.
It is rare to experience high temperatures, however.
The guidance stresses that, even if you do experience symptoms, you will still need the second dose of the vaccine. It also mentions that occasionally your glands might swell but that a normal regimen of rest and paracetamol will clear it up.
Can you catch Covid from the vaccine?
No, is the simple answer.
It is possible that you may have Covid on the day of your appointment, though, and so the guidance urges vigilance.
If you experience any of the three major symptoms – a new and continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss or change to your sense of taste or smell – then you should not attend the appointment and book a Covid test.
If you are unwell on the day of your appointment for non-Covid reasons, the advice remains to stay at home and book a new appointment.
What happens after my first appointment?
You should plan to attend your second appointment. It will be between three and 12 weeks after your first, according to the guidance.
Best protection is conferred by having two doses of the same vaccine.
Will the vaccine protect me and how long will it take to give me immunity?
Yes, in short.
Either vaccine you are offered in the UK has been proven to reduce symptoms and "been tested in more than 20,000 people in several different countries and shown to be safe", says the guidance.
Immunity won't happen instantly; it may take a week or two before protection starts to build up.
No vaccine is infallible, the guidance emphasises. It is possible that Covid can be contracted even after a vaccine is administered. But it will almost certainly be a less severe infection.
Can I still pass Covid on if I have had the vaccine?
This is a grey area and scientists are still unsure whether you can transmit the virus after vaccination.
But they are confident that the risk is greatly reduced. The guidance still advises vaccinated people to adhere to current Covid guidelines such as wearing face masks and social distancing.
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UK vaccine rollout - in pictures
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
THREE
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The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Recent winners
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)
