Seven days in medicine: 23-29 August 2023
BMJ 2023; 382 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p1970 (Published 31 August 2023) Cite this as: BMJ 2023;382:p1970
Covid-19
Vaccines will be made available to buy privately
Covid booster vaccines are expected to become available to buy for the first time, after officials from the UK Health Security Agency said that there was no reason that pharmacies and private clinics should not deliver them in the same way as flu jabs. An agency spokesperson told the Times, “As far as we’re concerned, the ball is in the court of the manufacturers to develop the market with private healthcare providers.” These boosters are unlikely to be available until next year.
Former deputy CMO Van-Tam joins Moderna
England’s former deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam, who became a recognisable face during the covid pandemic, has taken up a new role advising the covid vaccine maker Moderna. The company said that Van-Tam’s appointment to the role in May, which came just over a year after he left his government post, was “in accordance with the Department for Health and Social Care in England’s Business Appointment Rules policy.” Some commentators have suggested that this was another example of a “revolving door” between government and industry. (Full story doi:10.1136/bmj.p1927)
Colorectal cancer
Final guidance on faecal immunochemical tests
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has finalised guidance that was introduced last month for GPs to offer all patients presenting with signs of colorectal cancer a faecal immunochemical test …
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