All children in UK should be given chickenpox vaccine, experts tell NHS

Published

1 year ago

November 14, 2023

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The chickenpox vaccine should be introduced on the NHS for children, scientists advising the government have recommended.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said the jab should be given to youngsters in two doses when they are aged 12 months and 18 months.

It said data from countries suggests the vaccine – also known as the varicella jab – would dramatically reduce circulating chickenpox and prevent most severe cases in children.

The JCVI, which advises UK health departments, has also recommended a temporary catch-up programme for older children be included.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, chairman of the JCVI, said: “Chickenpox is well known and most parents will probably consider it a common and mild illness among children.

“But for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox or its complications can be very serious, resulting in hospitalisation and even death.

“Adding the varicella vaccine to the childhood immunisation programme will dramatically reduce the number of chickenpox cases in the community, leading to far fewer of those tragic, more serious cases.”

He added: “We now have decades of evidence from the US and other countries showing that introducing this programme is safe, effective and will have a really positive impact on the health of young children.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will now look at the recommendation.

The chickenpox vaccine has been given in other countries, including the US and Australia, for many years but the NHS has always said there is a worry that introducing it in the UK could increase the risk of chickenpox and shingles in adults.

It said that if a childhood chickenpox vaccination programme was introduced, people would not catch the virus as children, leaving unvaccinated children to get chickenpox as adults, when cases can be more severe.

But thinking around the vaccine has now changed.

UK

UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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UK winner of EuroMillions scoops £177m jackpot

A UK ticket-holder has won £177m in the EuroMillions draw, making them the third biggest National Lottery winner ever.

The winning numbers were 07, 11, 25, 31 and 40, with Lucky Stars 09, 12.

No one has come forward to claim it yet, and players have been urged to check their tickets as soon as they can.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at Allwyn, operator of the National Lottery, said: “Wow, it has been a truly incredible night for a single UK ticket-holder who has scooped tonight’s jaw-dropping £177m EuroMillions jackpot!

“The win has landed them a spot on the National Lottery’s Rich List, as they have become the third biggest National Lottery winner of all time!

“What a wonderful win right before Christmas, and we cannot wait to pay out this amazing prize.”

An anonymous UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195m – the biggest National Lottery win ever – on 19 July 2022.

The second-highest winners are Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, who scooped up a then-record £184.3m on 10 May 2022 with a Lucky Dip ticket.

UK

David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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David Coote: FA investigating allegations referee discussed giving yellow card before match

The FA has launched an investigation into allegations that suspended Premier League referee David Coote discussed giving a yellow card ahead of a match.

Mr Coote booked Leeds player Ezgjan Alioski during a match against West Brom in October 2019.

The Sun claims that the day before, he discussed carding the player with a Leeds fan he had met online, then after the game messaged him saying: “I hope you backed as discussed.”

Mr Coote insists nothing improper took place.

He said in a statement: “I strongly refute these false and defamatory allegations.

“Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field.

“I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.”

An investigation has now been opened to get to the bottom of the claims surrounding the already-suspended referee.

Previously, a video emerged showing Mr Coote snorting a white powder.

That came after another video showed Mr Coote in a foul-mouthed rant about Liverpool FC and their then-boss Jurgen Klopp.

After the most recent allegations, a spokesperson for Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) told Sky Sports News: “The facts need to be established in light of these very serious allegations.

“We adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our Integrity Code of Conduct, which is signed by all match officials on an annual basis.

“PGMOL Board is committed to taking the appropriate action should any breach of that Code be proven.

“David Coote remains suspended and subject to an ongoing disciplinary process by PGMOL, separate to the investigation into this matter which will be carried out independently by The FA.”

It added: “We will be making no further comment at this stage.”

UK

Davina McCall feeling ‘stronger and stronger’ after brain tumour surgery

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

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Davina McCall feeling 'stronger and stronger' after brain tumour surgery

Davina McCall has said she is feeling “stronger and stronger” every day after having brain tumour surgery.

In an update posted to Instagram, the TV presenter emphasised the importance of sleep during her recovery after having a benign brain tumour, known as a colloid cyst, removed.

Sporting a bruised left eye, McCall said she is being “brilliantly” looked after by her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and stepmum Gabby and is “just trying to sleep a lot” and “get better”.

Earlier this week, the star said she was suffering with short-term memory problems, due to the operation. But on Wednesday, she said that her memory is now “improving”.

“My short-term memory is really improving a lot every day,” she said, adding: “It has been an example to me of how much sleep helps me recover from everything.

“If I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to concentrate, I just got to sleep, and I wake up just completely renewed and refreshed.

“I know that my brain needs lots of sleep.”

The 57-year-old ended the update by thanking fans for their “ongoing support”.

‘Out of the woods’

Speaking during a livestream on Tuesday, McCall’s partner Douglas said the star is “definitely out of the woods” during her recovery.

“She’s quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at 10pm and has a nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon,” he said.

He added that the presenter is off work until mid-January and has “a lot of time to relax and recuperate”.

Douglas told fans: “It’s been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We’re definitely out of the woods.”

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and together they present a weekly lifestyle podcast called Making The Cut.