The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published an initial risk assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86.
This variant was detected in the UK yesterday (Friday 18 August), and has also been identified in Israel, Denmark and the US. It has been designated as V-23AUG-01 for the purpose of UKHSA monitoring.
The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants.
There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation.
There is currently insufficient data to assess the relative severity or degree of immune escape compared to other currently-circulating variants.
Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director, UKHSA said: “V-23AUG-01 was designated as a variant on 18 August 2023 on the basis of international transmission and significant mutation of the viral genome. This designation allows us to monitor it through our routine surveillance processes.
“We are aware of one confirmed case in the UK. UKHSA is currently undertaking detailed assessment and will provide further information in due course.”
UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will publish the results of our analysis when they are available.
So far, over half a million winter vaccines have been delivered in Lothian, protecting hundreds of thousands of people from the latest strain of flu and topping up their protection against COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine on offer in Lothian is a Spikevax bivalent booster vaccine, which is proven to protect from the Omicron variant as well as older strains of the virus.
For those who are eligible for both vaccines, getting these at the same time is a safe and efficient way to deliver maximum protection over the winter months.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care for NHS Lothian, said: “The flu virus is always changing and COVID-19 protection can fade over time, so it’s important we keep ahead of these viruses and top up our protection when offered.
“Even if you’ve already had COVID-19, you can get it again and vaccination is still the best way of protecting yourself and those around you against severe COVID-19 illness.
“If you’re an eligible adult and are yet to get your vaccinations, I’d urge you to take up this offer and drop in to one of our clinics before Christmas.
“For more information on these clinics, and details of how children and teenagers can get their vaccines, please visit our website.”
You may have to wait to be seen if you drop-in.
If you are required to queue and have mobility issues, or need any support or assistance, please make yourself known to a member of staff.
You are welcome to bring a carer, family member or friend along if you wish.
If you prefer to book an appointment, you can still do so online via the booking portal or by calling the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.
Drop-in clinic details can be found on NHS Lothian’s website. Please visit NHS Inform to find out more about the winter vaccines.
If you prefer to book an appointment, you can still do so online via the booking portal or by calling the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.
Area
Site
Days
Drop-in times
East Lothian
Haddington Corn Exchange
Monday to Sunday
8.30am – 12pm1pm – 4pm
Edinburgh
Ocean Terminal
Monday to Sunday
9am – 6.30pm
Edinburgh
Waverley Mall
Monday to Sunday
10am – 5.30pm
Midlothian
Rosewell Steading
Monday to Sunday
8am – 5pm
*Please note the main car park will be closed between 3pm and 5pm on Sunday 4th December for the switching on of the Christmas lights. On street parking will be available.
Four thousand fewer pathologically confirmed cancer diagnoses in March – June 2020 compared to 2019
As part of the ongoing response to COVID-19, Public Health Scotland provides an overview of changes in health and use of healthcare services during the pandemic.
This week, data on the numbers of people who have had a diagnosis of cancer confirmed using a sample of tissue (a pathologically confirmed cancer) between 1 January and 21 June 2020, compared with how many there were in the same period in 2019 are included in our analysis for the first time.
This information is provided to help inform the ongoing response to COVID-19 and is a subset of the fuller information on cancer incidence in 2020, which is due to be published by the Scottish Cancer Registry in 2022.
The data show that between January and March 2020, the number of people who had a pathological diagnosis of cancer was similar to the number in the same period in 2019.
By the week ending 21 June 2020, around 4,000 fewer people in Scotland had a pathologically confirmed cancer diagnosis than would have been expected.
Between March and June 2020, numbers fell by about 40% of those in 2019. In total, therefore, between January and the end of June 2020, the overall number of patients diagnosed was down by 19% on 2019 figures in the same period.
The fall in numbers is unlikely to be due to a reduced occurrence of cancer, and is likely to reflect a combination of: patients with possible cancer symptoms not seeking out help from their GP (as they may be worried about catching COVID-19); changes to the national screening programmes in the first few months of the pandemic; or reductions in the availability of diagnostic services and treatment during this period.
It is clear that COVID-19 has caused substantial direct and indirect harm to the health of the people of Scotland. As we continue to provide guidance on and evidence for actions to stop the spread of the virus we will also monitor the wider impact it has in our communities.
PHS will do this so that, together with partners in Government, local Government and in Health Boards across Scotland, we can work to protect the health of all of Scotland’s people.
Professor David Morrison, Director of the Scottish Cancer Registry at Public Health Scotland said:“Understanding the impact of the pandemic on health and healthcare services is a crucial part of our efforts to respond to and recover from it.
“As part of the Scottish Cancer Registry’s response we wanted to help understand how cancer diagnoses and cancer services have been affected. The reduction in cancer diagnoses this year gives us a sense of the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on all stages of the journey from first seeking help to recovering from treatment.
“If you’re worried you might have cancer – see your GP and get checked out. It’s probably not cancer – but if it is, the sooner you’re diagnosed, the better your chances of successful treatment.”
To see the further information on the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s health, and their use of healthcare services, including the data on cancer outlined above, please visit our COVID-19 wider impacts on the health care system web pages.
For information on screening, please visit NHS Inform.
