Universal flu vaccine to end annual jabs
A vaccine that could end the need for annual winter flu injections by offering lifelong protection against all strains of the virus has been developed by scientists.
By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent
8:00AM GMT 06 Nov 2011
The new universal flu vaccine, which researchers say will only need to be administered once, has been found to be effective against a number of different types of influenza virus, including the deadly avian flu and pandemic swine flu strains.
Flu viruses are highly changeable so elderly people and pregnant women, who are particularly vulnerable to the illness, are currently given new vaccinations each year to ensure they are protected.
Small-scale clinical trials on the new vaccine – known as Flu-v – have shown that it can significantly reduce infection and also cut the severity of symptoms.
Dementia patients and carers make a charity CD single for Christmas
Musical Minds hits a high note this Christmas: singing group of people with dementia and carers release charity CD single
An inspiring local singing group in East Ayrshire, made up of people with dementia and their carers, have launched a charity CD single for Christmas. The group, called Musical Minds, worked closely with internationally renowned tenor singer, Martin Aelred, to produce a double A-side CD for Christmas 2011. The songs featured are ‘If We Hold on Together’ by Diana Ross and ‘Those Were the Days (My Friend)’.
Carers fighting to raise the profile for carers
Care champions at Age UK awards
Saturday 5th November 2011
Those who fight for the rights of the county’s 60,000 carers were yesterday honoured for their hard work.
Four people from across Oxfordshire were named as ‘Carers Champions’ at the Age UK Oxfordshire’s annual general meeting.
Among them were a woman who took in her disabled parents and a couple looking after their 48-year-old autistic son.
