coronavirus for mutations her job is now one of the most important in this pandemic professor sharon peacock joins me tonight from cambridge the fessor peacock it's good to have you on the program i'd like to if i could get your take on what we just heard from the u.k. vaccines minister he said that no matter what the mutation or the variant we will always be able to answer it with a vaccine now that is quite a statement to make is it true. rather than answering that directly good evening by the way a rather than answer that directly what i would do is take a step through the kind of near history that we're facing now so right now it's really key to recognize that the very it in the u.k. and that spreading from the u.k. is eminently effective against the vaccines that we have right now so that's the good news and we we mustn't consider that anything else than that is true because it could put people off having back scenes so go and have your vaccine because it's fully effective now what we have seen is that viruses can be take reasonably rapidly and when they do that might mean that of a ver

coronavirus for mutations her job is now one of the most important in this pandemic professor sharon peacock joins me tonight from cambridge professor peacocke it's good to have you on the program i'd like to if i could get your take on what we just heard from the u.k. vaccines minister he said that no matter what the mutation or the variant we will always be able to answer it with a vaccine now that is quite a statement to make is it true. rather than answering that directly good evening by the way a rather than answer that directly what i would do is take a step through the kind of near history that we're facing now so right now it's really key to recognize that the very it in the u.k. and that spreading from the u.k. is eminently effective against the vaccines that we have right now so that's the good news and we we mustn't consider that anything else than that is true because it could put people off having back scenes so go and have your vaccine because it's fully effective now what we have seen is that viruses can be take reasonably rapidly and when they do that might mean that of a ver

yeah it's come from a woman called sharon peacock who knows more than perhaps anybody else really about the virus and what makes it take she is the head of the u.k. is genetic surveillance unit she's also the leader of a consortium of different trees in health bodies in the u.k. which the moments is allies in 30000 positive samples a day so she really has an understanding of virus gentleman and how they applied to public health what she says is that this particular strain of the virus that as you say we saw 1st class of the south of england back in september she says it swept the u.k. and in all probability is going to go on to sweep the rest of the world too and that's because viruses displace features in the feature that this particular strain has is its transmissibility is just simply more effective apos ing from one person to the next and that's given it an edge over the older version of cove in 19 what she says is the she expects that the you know the the analysis instead various different strains of coded 19 mapping the genome successor is going to go on for at least she expects 1

coronavirus for mutations her job is now one of the most important in this pandemic professor sharon peacock joins me tonight from cambridge the fessor peacock it's good to have you on the program i'd like to if i could get your take on what we just heard from the u.k. vaccines minister he said that no matter what the mutation or the variant we will always be able to answer it with a vaccine now that is quite a statement to make is it true. rather than answering that directly good evening by the way a rather than answer that directly what i would do is this is take a step through the kind of near history that we're facing now so right now it's really key to recognize that the variant in the u.k. and that spreading from the u.k. is eminently effective against the vaccines that we have right now so that's the good news and we we mustn't consider that anything else than that is true because it could put people off having back scenes so go and have your vaccine because it's fully effective now what we have seen is that viruses can be take reasonably rapidly and when they do that might mean that

coronavirus for mutations her job is now one of the most important in this pandemic professor sharon peacock joins me tonight from cambridge the fessor peacock it's good to have you on the program i'd like to if i could get your take on what we just heard from the u.k. vaccines minister he said that no matter what the mutation or the variant we will always be able to answer it with a vaccine now that is quite a statement to make is it true. rather than answering that directly good evening by the way a rather than answer that directly what i would do is take a step through the kind of near history that we're facing now so right now it's really key to recognize that the variant in the u.k. and that spreading from the u.k. is eminently effective against the vaccines that we have right now so that's the good news and we we mustn't consider that anything else than that is true because it could put people off having vaccines so go and have your vaccine because it's fully effective now what we have seen is that viruses can be take reasonably rapidly and when they do that might mean that of a very i

meanwhile, the head of the uk's genetic surveillance programme, professor sharon peacock, has predictedthe coronavirus variant first found in kent could become the world's dominant strain. and questions remain over whether we should be booking holidays either at home or abroad after warnings yesterday from ministers that it's too early to know where we'll be by the summer. but first more on those nhs reforms due to be set out later by the health secretary matt hancock. our health correspondent, nick triggle reports. the reforms brought in by david cameron's government were deeply controversial. they were meant to usher in an era of competition and innovation. but a white paper, to be published later, will begin the process of unpicking them. out will go requirements on tendering contracts, and instead councils and nhs services will be told to pool resources and decision making. ministers believe it will help meet the challenges of the ageing population and rise in numbers with chronic conditions. those working in the health service said many of the rules were time consuming, frustrating

let me ask you this before we run out of got about 30 seconds i spoke earlier this week with sharon peacock and she heads the ukase genome sequencing center or consortium for corona virus mutations are you working together with that consortium i mean because it sounds like your work would complement each other. and there are many different centers within within the u.k. on the genetics and that center is 5 far and away the biggest actually that is the reason that we know so much about the different mutations in the u.k. we are doing almost whole for the gene the typing of the spires anyone around the world and the 2nd closest country to us when it comes to gene and i think is south africa he's doing 8 times fewer than we are and that's why the appearance is that the majority of new variants are arising in the u.k. when the reality is we're the only people who are actually looking for it which is why we're finding them well you're doing very important valuable work and we certainly appreciate it dr david strain from exeter medical school thank you for your time and your insights tonight you'

let me ask you this before we run out of got about 30 seconds i spoke earlier this week with sharon peacock and she heads the ukase genome sequencing center or consortium for corona virus mutations are you working together with that consortium because it sounds like your work would complement each other. and there are many different centers with you within the u.k. on the genetics and that and that center is 5 far and away the biggest actually that is the reason that we know so much about that if you take in the u.k. we are doing almost whole of the jena type being of this virus any way around the world and the 2nd closest country to us when it comes to me is south africa he's doing 8 times fewer than we are and that's why the appearance is that the majority of new variants are arising in the u.k. when the reality is we're the only people who are actually looking for it which is why we're finding them well you're doing very important valuable work and we certainly appreciate it dr david strain from exeter medical school thank you for your time and your insights tonight you're welcome. well

professor sharon peacock.oubled in the last year. the group, which is currently working on adapting its vaccine to cope with new strains of coronavirus, reported pre—tax profits of 2.8 billion pounds for 2020. that's despite offering its vaccine on a not—for—profit basis. it's also suggested that if it needed to produce an amended version of the vaccine to combat these new strains, it could do so at scale in as little as six months. the red cross in ethiopia has warned that tens of thousands of people could starve to death in the country's conflict—hit tigray region. the assessment comes three months after the prime minister declared victory over the tigray people's liberation front. but the head of the red cross says hospitals lack basic medical supplies and that 80% of the region is currently unreachable. just a warning — some viewers may find mark lobel�*s report distressing. is ethiopia slipping back to scenes like these? there is worrying testimony from the few aid workers able to access its troubled nort

let me ask you this before we run out of got about 30 seconds i spoke earlier this week with sharon peacock and she heads the ukase genome sequencing center or consortium for corona virus mutations are you working together with that consortium i mean because it sounds like your work would complement each other. and there are many different centers within within the u.k. on the genetics and that center is 5 far and away the biggest actually that is the reason that we know so much about the different mutations in the u.k. we are doing almost whole of the gene the typing of this bars anyone around the world and the 2nd closest country to us when it comes to gene and i think is south africa is doing 8 times fewer than we are and that's why the appearance sais that the majority of new variants are arising in the tank when the reality is we're the only people who are still looking for it which is why we're finding them well you're doing very important valuable work and we certainly appreciate it dr david strain from exeter medical school thank you for your time and your insights tonight you're we

professor sharon peacock said it could become the world's most dominant strain of covid—19.these are causing unease in the travel industry and among some conservative mps. caroline davies reports. thoughts of a summer getaway have been keeping many of us going during the winter but today the government said it still far from the winter but today the government said it still farfrom certain. pandemics are difficult times and there is a lot of uncertainty, so i'm afraid people will have to do the patient before we can get that certainty. we are doing everything we possibly can to make sure that people can have a holiday this summer. i don't actually think people are at all confused and i think people totally understand the situation. t think people totally understand the situation. ., ., , ,., , think people totally understand the situation. ., ., , , ., ., situation. i have absolutely no idea what the government _ situation. i have absolutely no idea what the government is _ situation. i have absolutely no idea what the government is advising i situation. i have absolutely no

let me ask you this before we run out of got about 30 seconds i spoke earlier this week with sharon peacock and she heads the ukase genome sequencing center or consortium for corona virus mutations are you working together with that consortium because it sounds like your work would complement each other. and there are many different centers within within the u.k. on the genetics and that center is 5 far and away the biggest actually that is the reason that we know so much about the different mutations in the u.k. we are doing almost whole for the gene it's like being of this virus anyway around the world and the 2nd closest country to us when it comes to gene i mean is south africa needs new ink 8 times fewer than we are and that slight the appearance sais that the majority of new variants are arising in the u.k. when the reality is we're the only people who are actually looking for it which is why we're finding them well you're doing very important valuable work and we certainly appreciate it dr david strain from exeter medical school thank you for your time and your insights tonight. you'

yes sharon peacock should know what she's talking about she is the head of the u.k.'s genetic surveillance program she's also the head of a consortium of health bodies and labs around the country that is currently analyzing the 1000 plus positive tests a day looking at the genetic make up of the virus is their findings and what she has said is that the strain of 19 that was 1st detected in the south of the u.k. the south of england back in september she says has swept the country and is likely to sweep the world as well and that's because this strain called the can strike is particularly transmissible that it passes from one person to the next more effectively than the earlier strains a coded $91.00 of the warring things that she's been saying is that it's the work of analyzing 19 strains is probably going to carry on for another 10 years plus now that might sound more worrying that it actually is because she said that that doesn't mean that this is going to be an acute public health crisis for that long because different strains of the corona virus have different. im

professor sharon peacock said it could become the world�*s most dominant strain of covid—19.stry and unease among some conservative mps. caroline davies reports. thoughts of a summer getaway have been keeping many of us going during the winter, but today the government said it is still far from the winter, but today the government said it is still farfrom certain. pandemics are difficult times and there is a lot of uncertainty. i am afraid people will have to be patient before we can get that certainty. we are doing everything we possibly can to make sure that people can have a holiday this summer. i do not think people are at all confused and i think people totally understand the situation. i have absolutely no idea what the government is advising on holidays. white _ government is advising on holidays. white back— government is advising on holidays. white back memories of holidays past, _ white back memories of holidays past, keats cancelled two holidays last year— past, keats cancelled two holidays last year and does not know if her trips— last year and does not know if he

. >> reporter: sharon peacock leads a nationwide network of scientists tracking those transformations more closely than anywhere else in the world. >> we are looking for mutations, and those mutations really give us a bar code for the virus. >> reporter: every day at labs like this one robots and researchers sift through thousands of samples of covid-19, mapping mutations in the genetic code. >> the sequenced genome here, and this is individual patients samples. >> reporter: last november they spotted something alarming -- 23 mutations, mainly in the spike protein of the virus, allowing to latch on to cells natmore tightly making it more contagious. if people with old variants of the virus could infect 13 others, now they could infect around 20. >> that's important because more people can get sick. therefore, more people are likely to die simply from the burden of disease. >> reporter: as what's been dubbed the uk variant has swept across the world, the u.s. and many other nations have tightened travel restrictions. germany and austria now mandate medical-grade masks in most public pl

but then you talk to people like sharon peacock, who is running the genetic— like sharon peacock, whober last year. there have been calls for an extension of the stamp duty holiday in next month's budget as buyers and sellers face delays in completing deals. the popularity of the concession, combined with covid restrictions, have slowed the process of property sales, leading to fears that many may not be completed before the stamp duty holiday ends in march. democrat prosecutors in donald trump's impeachment trial have been showing new footage of the attack on capitol hill. democrats have been outlining their case in the us senate, arguing that mr trump he had acted as "inciter—in—chief" on the day and beforehand. the former president's lawyers deny the claims. the family of captain sir tom moore say they have been "overwhelmed" by the public�*s support since his death. the 100—year—old died at bedford hospital earlier this month, two days after being admitted with breathing problems. in a statement on twitter, his daughter hannah ingram—moore said, "he held a place in so many people'