Latest news with #LeylaHannbeck
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts say no more covid jabs in the UK
Health chiefs were today begged to re-examine the UK's Covid jab policy after ditching plans to offer the jabs to under 75s this winter. Invites won't be dished out to up to six million pensioners aged 65-74, who were eligible during the pandemic. Scientists were alarmed last month after a new Covid variant dubbed 'Stratus' and believed to to be more infectious than previous Covid strains, soared to dominance in the UK. But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which guides ministers on jab rollouts, argued that additional Covid doses provide 'very limited, if any, protection against infection' given the 'high population immunity' to the virus. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said the JCVI's decision was a 'hugely concerning, a reckless decision'. She added: 'By restricting access to jabs this autumn ahead of peak Covid season, there is a serious risk that Covid cases in this age group increase compared to previous years putting even greater pressure on the NHS. She also said it was 'madness' for the UK to restrict jabs, when other nations including Germany and the United States were still recommending the vaccines for all pensioners. 'To deny millions of seniors their COVID jab this year is to take an unacceptable risk with patient health and risks producing a winter crisis the NHS simply won't be able to cope with,' Dr Hannbeck added. A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: 'This decision is based on expert advice from the JCVI, which continuously monitor and evaluate emerging scientific evidence on Covid vaccines. 'The autumn 2025 vaccination program will target people who are at the highest risk of serious illness to protect the most vulnerable. We encourage anyone who is eligible for Covid vaccination to come forward for vaccination this autumn.' In the UK, ministers have repeatedly said they won't resort to imposing lockdowns unless a doomsday Covid variant appears. A wall of immunity among the population—built up by repeated waves of infection and vaccine rollouts—has given officials confidence to consign pandemic-era measures to history.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
No more Covid jabs, millions are told - as experts hit out at 'reckless decision' to block all but one age group from further boosters
Health chiefs were today begged to re-examine the UK's Covid jab policy after ditching plans to offer the jabs to under 75s this winter. Invites won't be dished out to up to six million pensioners aged 65-74, who were eligible during the pandemic. Only those over the age of 75, those living in care homes and others who are immunosuppressed will be able to come forwards for a jab. Experts labelled the move a 'hugely concerning' and 'reckless decision' warning cases could shoot up before the vulnerable get their top-up jab. Scientists were alarmed last month after a new Covid variant dubbed 'Stratus' and believed to to be more infectious than previous Covid strains, soared to dominance in the UK. But the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which guides ministers on jab rollouts, argued that additional Covid doses provide 'very limited, if any, protection against infection' given the 'high population immunity' to the virus. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said the JCVI's decision was a 'hugely concerning, a reckless decision'. She added: 'By restricting access to jabs this autumn ahead of peak Covid season, there is a serious risk that Covid cases in this age group increase compared to previous years putting even greater pressure on the NHS. 'Saving a few pounds by not giving a patient a jab could end now up leaving the NHS with a bill for thousands, if that patient ends up hospitalised with Covid later on. 'Many patients will feel they need to pay privately to get protection. 'We urge the JCVI and the government to think again and make everyone 65 and over in England eligible for an NHS COVID jab from their local pharmacy.' She also said it was 'madness' for the UK to restrict jabs, when other nations including Germany and the United States were still recommending the vaccines for all pensioners. 'To deny millions of seniors their COVID jab this year is to take an unacceptable risk with patient health and risks producing a winter crisis the NHS simply won't be able to cope with,' Dr Hannbeck added. A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: 'This decision is based on expert advice from the JCVI, which continuously monitor and evaluate emerging scientific evidence on Covid vaccines. 'The autumn 2025 vaccination programme will target people who are at the highest risk of serious illness to protect the most vulnerable. We encourage anyone who is eligible for Covid vaccination to come forward for vaccination this autumn.' Under the JCVI's advice, frontline NHS workers and care staff will also no longer be offered free jabs. 'In the current era of high population immunity to Covid, additional Covid doses provide very limited, if any, protection against infection and any subsequent onward transmission of infection,' they said. The vaccines are estimated to have saved tens of millions of lives globally from Covid, 1.6million in Europe and 3million in the US. They are also credited with helping end the series of paralyzing lockdowns brought on by the Covid pandemic. In the UK, ministers have repeatedly said they won't resort to imposing lockdowns unless a doomsday Covid variant appears. A wall of immunity among the population—built up by repeated waves of infection and vaccine rollouts—has given officials confidence to consign pandemic-era measures to history. Spikes in Covid cases can still cause mass illness across the country, sparking chaos in schools, the health service and public transport. But officials also no longer track the prevalence of the virus in the same way they used to, as part of the Government's ushering in of pre-Covid normalities.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Labour to deny six million pensioners Covid jabs this winter
The Government is to deny six million pensioners Covid jabs this winter. The rollout will be restricted to only the most vulnerable groups, and the vaccines will not be offered to NHS and care workers. Only people over the age of 75, those living in care homes and others who are immunosuppressed will be eligible for free vaccines. 'Reckless and short-term' The changes mean about six million pensioners between the age of 65 and 74 will not be offered free jabs. The decision from ministers follows recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to restrict jabs to those most vulnerable to serious outcomes from infection. But pharmacists said the decision was 'reckless' and 'short-term' and could lead to increasing numbers of patients needing hospital care this winter. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: 'This is hugely concerning, a reckless decision.' She said it was 'madness' for the UK to restrict jabs, with Germany and the United States among countries still recommending the vaccines for all pensioners. 'To deny millions of seniors their Covid jab this year is to take an unacceptable risk with patient health and risks producing a winter crisis the NHS simply won't be able to cope with,' Dr Hannbeck said. A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: 'This decision is based on expert advice from the JCVI, which continuously monitor and evaluate emerging scientific evidence on COVID-19 vaccines. 'The autumn 2025 vaccination programme will target people who are at the highest risk of serious illness to protect the most vulnerable. We encourage anyone who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination to come forward for vaccination this autumn.' The decision means frontline NHS workers and care staff will no longer be offered free jabs. The DHSC said: 'In the current era of high population immunity to COVID-19, additional COVID-19 doses provide very limited, if any, protection against infection and any subsequent onward transmission of infection.' It said that high population immunity meant vaccination was likely to only have a very limited impact on reducing staff sickness absence.
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Penis pump and Viagra prescriptions soar as NHS spends over £20MILLION helping blokes with erectile dysfunction
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOCTORS prescribed a record number of bedroom aids for blokes such as penis pumps and Viagra last year, figures show. The NHS in England alone spent more than £20million helping men dealing with erectile dysfunction. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Doctors prescribed a record number of bedroom aids for blokes such as penis pumps and Viagra last year Credit: Alamy A total of 24,231 erection devices, including vacuum pumps — as seen in 1997 comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery — and constriction rings were prescribed in 2024/25, the NHS Business Services Authority revealed. That was up by 10,000 on a decade ago. And the £2.8million cost has doubled since 2015. Meanwhile, prescriptions for drugs such as Viagra and Cialis reached 4.7million — up 100,000 on the year before — with a cost of £17.6million. The NHS said erection problems are 'very common' in men over 40 and become more likely with age and illness. A spokesman added: 'Effective erectile dysfunction treatment is important for both sexual and mental well-being.' Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said the pumps were a useful option for people who cannot be prescribed Viagra. She said: 'Viagra and Cialis interact with medicines used to treat angina and certain blood pressure medicines so alternatives are available, including pumps, where taking them is unsuitable.' The findings come days after actress Dame Emma Thompson suggested sex should be prescribed on the NHS. She spoke out at a a screening of her 2022 film Good Luck To You, Leo Grande — in which she plays a widow who hires a sex worker. Bionic willies on the rise as more than 500 men with severe erectile dysfunction have £8,000 NHS operation Dame Emma, 66, said: 'You need sex because it's part of our health plan, if you like. 'It should really be on the NHS. 'It's so good for you.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
08-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Number of fat jab NHS prescriptions doubles in a year as 73% of Sun readers now think about using injections
Prescriptions for Mounjaro surged to 1.1million from just 3,300 a year earlier FAT JAB BRITAIN Number of fat jab NHS prescriptions doubles in a year as 73% of Sun readers now think about using injections Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENGLAND has become a fat jab nation as weight loss drug prescriptions double to almost three million in a year. Demand for drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro show no signs of slowing, with the NHS splashing out £269million on them in 2024-25. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Weight loss drug prescriptions in England have doubled to almost three million in a year Credit: Getty 5 Prescriptions for Mounjaro surged to 1.1million from just 3,300 a year earlier Credit: Alamy It comes as a new Sun survey reveals 73 per cent of our readers are thinking of using them as they struggle to shift weight. Official figures show prescriptions for the big three — Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy — rocketed from 1.4million in 2023-24 to 2.7million last year. The increase was driven by Mounjaro, regarded as the strongest jab, with prescriptions surging to 1.1million from just 3,300 a year earlier. Most were prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes, as the injections were designed to treat that condition, and have only recently been approved for weight loss alone. NHS figures suggest prescriptions in Wales also doubled last year, from approximately 34,000 to 70,000, and in Scotland from 40,000 to 50,000. The numbers are expected to rise again this year as the NHS introduces them through slimming clinics. More than a million people are also already buying the jabs privately. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: 'Never in my career have I seen a product with as much hype as these injections. 'The demand is absolutely huge and I expect it to keep increasing — the only way is up.' Clare Butler, 48, said the jabs also helped her mental health. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons The mum, from Manchester, who has lost 4st 4lb, said: 'Mounjaro didn't only quieten the food noise, but it helped quieten the over-thinking, anxious thoughts that had consumed my life for so long.' She described it as, 'the best decision I've ever made for myself'. Research is revealing wide-ranging health benefits to the jabs, such as lowering risks of cancer, heart disease and dementia, yet warnings over weight loss drugs are also increasing. 5 Medics warn they must not be used in pregnancy, while trying to conceive or while breastfeeding, for fear they could lead to miscarriage or birth defects. They have also warned that rapid weight loss caused by the drugs could lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Annual statistics from the NHS Business Services Authority show the total number of GLP-1 injections prescribed increased from 1,427,968 in the 2023-24 financial year to 2,734,499 in 2024-25. It was a 91 per cent spike — accounted for almost entirely by Mounjaro's growth. 5 Clare Butler lost 4st4lb on Mounjaro Credit: Clare Butler 5 Clare said the jabs not only helped her lose weight but improved her mental health Credit: Clare Butler The totals also included brands such as Saxenda, Ozempic and Wegovy. In the same period, the cost of prescribing rose from £137,808,297 to £269,276,366 — equal to 2.4 per cent of all NHS spending on pharmacy medicines, or £1 in every £42. The NHS said: 'We expect demand for weight loss drugs to continue to rise in the coming years.' The Department of Health added: 'We recognise the drugs' importance for treating type 2 diabetes and their exciting remit as new treatments for obesity.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
