LATEST FINDINGS SHOW LEVELS OF COVID-19 INFECTION STILL HIGH, BUT FALLING - AND HIGH VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS IN ALL AGE GROUPS

Over 100,000 volunteers in England took part in the study to examine the levels of COVID-19 in the general population between 19 October and 05 November. 

 Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:

“This round of REACT provides another reminder of the effectiveness of the vaccines against Covid-19. As we approach winter, it is vital that everyone eligible comes forward for their jabs – whether that’s their first dose, second or a booster. 

“Remember that anyone over 12 years old is now able to receive their first jab, and boosters will soon be offered to everyone over 40. Please do take up that offer to ensure your immunity does not wane.” 

Nearly 12 per cent of the sequenced positive samples were Delta sublineage AY.4.2. which UKHSA has classified as a variant under investigation (VUI). UKHSA continues to monitor the spread of this variant and investigate the factors underlying its growing prevalence.

The main findings from the report are as follows:

• There were 1,399 positives from 100,112 swabs, giving a weighted prevalence of 1.57 per cent.
• The current prevalence is close to being two-fold higher than prevalence in the previous full round 14 (09-27 Sept 2021), which was 0.83 per cent.
• Within the latest round 15, there was a fall in prevalence, with the reproduction rate of the virus (‘R’) estimated at 0.76. 
• The highest prevalence was found in the South West at 1.97 per cent, increasing almost three-fold from round 14. Round 15 showed an increase in rates over round 14 in most regions.
• Highest prevalence was observed in those aged 13-17 years at 5.21 per cent and those aged 5-12 years at 4.95 per cent.
• For those aged 65-74 years, prevalence was 0.84 per cent. At 75 years and over it was 0.63 per cent – both representing increases of approximately two-fold from the previous round 14.
• 841 positive samples have been sequenced to date, all of which were Delta variant. 99 (11.8 per cent) of these were the AY.4.2 Delta sublineage, which has been classified by UKHSA as a variant under investigation (VUI).
• In rounds 13-15, children (ages 12-17) were 56 per cent less likely to develop infection compared to an unvaccinated child, rising to 67.5 per cent for symptomatic infection.

Professor Paul Elliott, director of the REACT programme from Imperial’s School of Public Health, said:

“Although hospitalisations and deaths remain lower than previous peaks, the data shows that infections across the country remain very high. A higher rate of prevalence was recorded at most ages and most regions of the country compared to data from a month earlier, most notably in school-aged children.

“The rate of prevalence has steadily declined throughout Round 15 reporting, but an overall figure of 1.57 per cent is still nearly two-fold higher than that recorded in the previous round.

“It is possible that the prevalence rate could rise once again now that children have returned to school following half-term, though this could be at least partially offset by as many people as possible having booster jabs when offered and those aged twelve years or over having the vaccine.”

Kelly Beaver, CEO at Ipsos MORI, said:

“The high prevalence found in this round of REACT reminds us all of the importance of remaining vigilant, while the data on booster jabs is an important reminder to everyone to get their booster jab when it’s made available to them to ensure the best protection against COVID-19.”

The REACT-1 study was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care and is carried out by a world-class team of scientists, clinicians and researchers at Imperial College London, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Ipsos MORI.

UKHSA estimates that the vaccination programme in England has prevented hundreds of thousands of hospitalisations and deaths. It is easier than ever to get vaccinated, and the vaccination programme has been successful in weakening the link between infection, hospitalisation and deaths.