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Panel of experts at Bolton University to reveal truth behind Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theories
They’re tackling misinformation around the vaccines
A panel of experts at the University of Bolton are busting myths around the coronavirus vaccine that have been circulating online.
The university is working with a number of specialists to encourage people to get their jabs by finding the truth behind some of the claims about the vaccine.
The panel includes Dr Abhishek Kumar, a consultant interventional cardiologist who will chair the online seminar ‘Know the truth! Understand the advice, have the vaccine, protect yourself and your loved ones’, alongside other experts and community leaders.
Dr Kumar has explained that some on the Muslim community are concerned animal produce is found in the vaccine meaning it is not halal.
But the doctor encourages everyone to get the vaccine, explaining that this is simply not true.
He said: “There are these online conspiracy theories and people ask how do you know the vaccine is safe. People say it has microchips in it, that it contains animal products or that it can turn you sterile.
“Overall I think in the UK population about 15 million people have been vaccinated but there are concerning reports from different parts of the country that particularly in the BAME community there’s been a reluctance in vaccine uptake.
“In Bradford they’ve had similar issues. There have been reports from different parts of the country and the government did come out advice and various communications to try and dispel the myths and reassure people.”
He added: “I and my colleagues with whom I work see the vaccination as a way out to the future.
“Everybody’s been suffering, people on the frontline, behind the scenes, people cooped up inside their house and children in particular. They can’t go to school, play or mix with their friends.
“This has had significant affects on the mental and physical wellbeing in general of most people. So we ought to move together in a direction where we try and help each other as a society so that we can come out of this series of lockdowns and that vaccine is the only way we have at the moment.
“There are no animal products in this vaccine, it’s safe to use, it’s efficient and it’s effective.”
The panel includes Prof Sanjay Arya, medical director at Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospital; Dr Wirin Bhatiani, chairman of Boltonâs Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Lowey, Boltonâs director of public health, and Prof John Lumley, founding dean for the School of Medicine at the University of Bolton.
Professor George E Holmes, president and vice chancellor at the university, said: âWe are delighted to host this fascinating and extremely important webinar.
âAs a university that values all the diverse communities we serve, it is so important that the facts are presented to help people understand why getting the vaccination is so crucial. I would like to thank the eminent panel for agreeing to take part.â
The webinar will take place on February 17th at 3pm and is open to everyone. Register here.Â
Police have arrested a man following their release of CCTV footage featuring a car they believe was used in three attempted kidnappings around Salford.
A man driving the vehicle reportedly attempted to force a 15-year-old girl into the car at a bus stop in Monton on November 21st.
Detectives also think the same man ‘possibly’ tried to abduct another girl earlier that same day, as well as a third teenager five days previous.
Now police have confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested by officers today, Monday November 28th, on suspicion of three counts of attempted kidnap.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the victims have been left âextremely shaken upâ.
Officers identified the vehicle in the footage as a black Vauxhall Astra with a silver cover on the driver’s side wing mirror.
Greater Manchester Police
Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield, of GMPâs Salford CID, said: âAlthough we have made this arrest, we are still very much looking to speak to anyone who may have information or dashcam footage, which could help us to establish the circumstances.
âWe understand that the local community will be concerned but we are doing all we can to solve this investigation.
âIâd urge anyone who knows anything at all to please get in touch as soon as possible. In particular we are interested in the movements of a Black Vauxhall Astra 08 plate with a silver driver’s wing mirror cover; the passenger side is black.”
Police are still keen to speak to anyone with dashcam footage from the following times:
- Liverpool Street, Salford, between Fitzwarren Street and Albion Way on November 16th, between 7:45-8:20pm
- Mossfield Road and Ackworth Road, Swinton, on November 21st, between 8-9am
- Rocky Lane, Monton Green and Monton High Street on November 21st, between 6-7pm
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Police believe this car was used in three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
Do you recognise the vehicle?
Police have released CCTV footage of a car they believe was used in three attempted kidnappings around Salford.
A man driving the vehicle attempted to force a 15-year-old girl into the car at a bus stop in Monton on November 21st.
Detectives also think the same man tried to abduct another girl earlier that same day, as well as a third teenager five days previous.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the victims have been left âextremely shaken upâ.
Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield said: “It’s very important that we get this man identified and off the streets as soon as possible.â
Police have identified the vehicle in the footage as a black Vauxhall Astra with a silver cover on the driver’s side wing mirror.
Greater Manchester Police
Anyone with dashcam footage from the following times, officers are keen to speak to you:
- Liverpool Street, Salford, between Fitzwarren Street and Albion Way on November 16th, between 7:45-8:20pm
- Mossfield Road and Ackworth Road, Swinton, on November 21st, between 8-9am
- Rocky Lane, Monton Green and Monton High Street on November 21st, between 6-7pm
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âHeartbrokenâ family of three-year-old girl tragically killed in M6 crash pay tribute
‘RIP baby girl, we are all missing you and will carry on forever’
The three-year-old girl who tragically died in a horror crash on the motorway this weekend has been named.
Faye Dawson, from Wallasey in Merseyside, died when an elderly driverâs Porsche collided with the car she was in on the M6 in Lancashire.
Emergency services responded to the incident, which happened between Preston and Leyland, at about 5.50pm on Saturday, November 19th.
The M6 was shut in both directions for several hours following the tragic incident, with two lanes of the southbound carriageway remaining closed on Sunday while emergency surface repairs were undertaken.
Lancashire Police
Fayeâs family have now released a tribute, saying: âWe canât see the future without you, it has left a massive hole in our lives.
âEveryone says how precious their daughter/granddaughter is but you were an exception, you were such a clever little girl who was very funny and had us all laughing all the time.
âYou were so loving and caring and above all very loved by everyone who met you. Youâre now at rest with your great nanny, great grandad, and Uncle Jimmy.
âWords wonât justify how much we are all going to miss you and how much we all love you. Your mummy is being so brave, and she will continue to make you proud.
âYou were too little to be taken away from us, but we know the angels will look after you and theyâre lucky to have you dancing in the sky with them.
âWe are all so heartbroken that you were taken far too young, but we are so glad that we got to have you for the time we did.
âRIP baby girl, we are all missing you and will carry on forever. All our love.â
Lancashire Police
Police think that the Porsche – which was being driven by a 79-year-old man who also died at the scene – crashed into the Vauxhall Meriva that Faye was travelling in.
The car then flipped on its side and burst into flames, with two adults travelling in the Vauxhall rushed to hospital.
Fayeâs mother suffered serious injuries and is being treated in hospital, while a man who was in the car also received serious injuries.
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Officers are still appealing for witnesses. Sergeant Craig Booth, the serious Collision Investigator for Lancashire Policeâs Tactical Operations Unit, said: âThese are very sad and tragic circumstances.
âThis was a traumatic scene for all witnesses and emergency services involved, I would like to pass on my thanks for their dedication in dealing with an incident which can only be described as horrific.
âWe want to hear from any witnesses to the collision or those who have dashcam footage from the area around the time it happened.â
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage from the motorway can contact 101 â quoting log 1102 of November 19th, 2022.
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Man arrested following three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
Police believe this car was used in three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
âHeartbrokenâ family of three-year-old girl tragically killed in M6 crash pay tribute
Manchester’s first ever Christmas Parade is coming to town next month
Northern housing estate so rough bus drivers were forced to stop going there
