10ial

The past few years have shown the outstanding ability of biotech to counteract the most devastating effects of the pandemic, and the leading role the UK's science base has played in these efforts. From finding the first life-saving treatment for COVID to creating an at-cost vaccine, Britain has led the

Expert decisions affect the efficacy of vaccines far more than is currently discussed. Instead of expert decision makers blaming antivaxers, they must take responsibility of their own decisions to avert future lockdowns.

As the risk of COVID-19 disappears, we are starting to see the security harms of face masks. The politicised nature of face mask policy will inevitably lead to an outcome whereby legitimate concern of the security risks of face masks will be ignored by proponents, thus damaging social cohesion.

New Zealand's isolationism has led it to contribute only $0.71 per head to the GAVI vaccine alliance despite drawing from humanitarian COVAX supplies. By contrast, the UK has paid $39.37 per head and not drawn any vaccines, despite also taking the cost of developing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

New Zealand, South Korea and North Korea are dependant on the UK-funded COVAX humanitarian programme to receive vaccine doses in Q1 2021, after struggling with vaccine supply chains and placing orders too late.

Data from UCL's COVID-19 Social Study shows that lockdown compliance is lower amongst the wealthier, younger, urban-dwelling and BAME groups; despite such groups containing the greatest number of "lockdown fundamentalists".

Wales has become an international laughing stock after First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has banned the sale of "non-essential" goods like books and cleaning supplies despite such items being available for next-day delivery from Amazon Prime. Alcohol is considered essential.

Eurostat All-Cause Mortality (to Week 35 of 2020) shows that the real risk of COVID-19 remains small, but national economic well-being continues to be most important driver in national death rates.

Germany and Portugal continue to have the worst all-cause death rates in Western Europe. Sweden continues to have one of the lowest all-cause mortality rates in Europe as the UK achieves a lower death rate than Spain after easing lockdown.

Despite making incorrect comments on COVID-19 treatment and interventions, Devi Sridhar is not a qualified medical professional. The public should instead seek advice from regulated medical professionals instead of politics graduates.

Of 29 academic members of SAGE, 22 are from "Golden Triangle" universities (Oxford, Cambridge and London-based universities). This is in stark contrast to the three key British professors driving worldwide efforts on vaccination and treatment.

Mainstream media tells us that Sweden has learnt the error of its ways in refusing to lockdown, but the reality is that Sweden still has no mask wearing, no social distancing, no school closures and rational debate instead of propaganda. Now more scientists speak out against pseudoscience.

Increased virus transmission during 5 weeks of 2020 resulted in approximately 2,621 excess flu and pneumonia deaths and (when modelled to COVID-19) approximately 4,919 excess COVID-19 deaths. This coincides societal fear, including panic buying and stockpiling of hygiene goods.

In lieu of randomised control trials; data is increasingly showing that lockdown policies appear to be ineffective but cause substantial unforeseen harm. Less virulent infections like flu remain in circulation despite lockdown measures and lockdown severity is correlated to increased excess deaths.

The UK's ONS claim the country has the worst death toll in Europe, but their methodology is flawed and their data is littered with statistical errors. In reality, the UK has a lower all-cause mortality rate than Portugal, Italy and Germany. Sweden is lower than Finland, France and the Netherlands.

Initial deliveries of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine are expected within a matter of weeks, alongside a request to UK regulators for emergency use authorisation.

On the 16th June 2020, the first proven life-saving COVID-19 treatment was found. Approximately 650,000 lives will be saved over the course of 6 months due to this discovery - almost 16 times the UK death toll.