OVER the past 15 years, support for disabled people with significant, but not the most severe, impairments has been steadily eroded.

The government’s latest proposals in the Green Paper would accelerate this cruel trend, hitting people hardest just when they need help most.

These changes will not help people into work. They will push some of those who could work even further away from employment, force many from poverty into deep poverty, harm physical and mental health, and increase homelessness.

The creeping, insidious rise in hardship may not happen overnight, but it is coming. The benefits system must reflect real lives, not political soundbites.

Politicians talk about “simplifying” the system. But simplification should never mean cutting vital support.

A sophisticated benefits system manages complexity internally so that claimants don’t bear the burden of navigating it. Disabled people need targeted support tailored to their unique needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach that punishes them for being unwell.

Many disabled people want to work but cannot find jobs, not because they lack desire, but because employers fail to make reasonable adjustments. Shockingly, countless stories reveal people forced out of work unnecessarily. Real support would ensure employers make reasonable adjustments and the Government made sure essential services like Access to Work are provided in time.

Yet financial support is equally essential. Cutting benefits does not encourage work, it reduces the very support that allows people to stay in employment or return to the workplace. Framing benefit cuts as a “moral” duty is not morality; it’s cruelty.

For those who cannot realistically work, the proposals would trap many in deep poverty. Society must recognise that people’s value is not determined by their ability to work. Everyone deserves dignity, a decent standard of living, and protection from destitution.

These proposals also risk breaking the law. They conflict with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Equality Act 2010, particularly where they cause loss of income for disabled claimants.

Sally’s story

Sally had a professional career until 15 years ago when she became ill. She had post-operative complications; her employer failed to make reasonable adjustments and fired her. She wanted to continue working and considered going to an employment tribunal to contest her dismissal but was ill and when she looked at what would be involved, she could not face the stress.

Since then, her condition has significantly worsened. She has had numerous operations and has a stoma and a feeding tube. She has lost a lot of weight, and her body struggles to absorb nutrients. She has also developed rheumatoid arthritis which means she is in pain a lot of the time and finds walking very difficult. She has difficulty sleeping. She is exhausted a lot of the time.

Her social life is very limited, any trip out means that she must do nothing for several days before and after the outing.

She would love to work but believes that sadly this is now unrealistic. She was doing a small amount of voluntary work but had to give it up because she never knew when she would have a bad day.

Sally receives UC with an additional component (LCWRA) and PIP. She received 10 points in the PIP daily living assessment but didn’t score 4 points for any activity so would lose that PIP under the government’s proposals for change. She is very worried about how she would manage with much less PIP and horrified how someone in her position on an even lower income will be expected to manage.

The solutions are clear:

● Restore different levels of support for different needs, PIP, Universal Credit, and work allowances must reflect the extra costs faced by people with significant impairments.

● Make assessments realistic, factoring in pain, exhaustion, diagnosis, age, experience, and the actual likelihood of returning to work.

● Compel employers to provide reasonable adjustments so those who can work are not pushed out.

● Ensure disabled people living alone or caring for dependents get a self-care element to cover essential costs.

● Simplify the system without stripping out support, so claimants can access what they need without stress or confusion.

This is not about generosity, it’s about fairness, dignity, and social justice. Every one of us has a role to play. Write to your councillors, email your MPs, make your voice heard. Demand a benefits system that is just, dignified, and responsive to real lives.

If we stay silent, it will not just be policy on paper. It will be real people in our communities, being written off. That is something no decent society should allow.

If this and Sally’s story has affected you, take action today, Every voice counts. Every action matters. Don’t let the most vulnerable in our communities be ignored.: Contact your local councillor or MP and demand better support for disabled people.

Rachael Maskell MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Phone number: 020 7219 4525

Email: rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk

Luke Charters MP

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Email: luke.charters.mp@parliament.uk

Find you local councillor at: https://democracy.york.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx

Citizens Advice York is a small independent charity providing support and advice to York residents on all of the topics mentioned here! Whilst City of York Council remain consistent and generous funders, we still have to raise £30,000 to £40,000 each and every year (and sometimes more!) to cover the full cost of this important service.

We could not operate without the generosity of donations to fill this gap. We are incredibly grateful of support, especially when everyone is feeling the effects of this current cost of living crisis. We know that times are hard, but if you are able to help please donate so we can keep on helping others.

You can make a one off donation or become a “Friend of Citizens Advice York” and make a monthly subscription. You will receive a quarterly newsletter and an invitation to our AGM and annual fundraising event.

Help us at: www.citizensadviceyork.org.uk/donate/

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Flights between Manchester Airport and the Middle East continue to be disrupted

Flights between the UK and the Middle East continue to be disrupted due to the conflict in the Middle East which is now in its second week.

Hundreds of thousands of passengers have been impacted by the airspace closures which have affected major travel hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Passengers have been left stranded not just in the Middle East but as far as South East Asia and Australia.

Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways continue to operate limited services to and from the region. Although Emirates recently announced that it is planning on restoring “full network operations” in the coming days.

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Uncertainty still remains around air travel, early on Tuesday morning flights were temporarily paused due to a missile threat from Iran at around 4.30am GMT. The closure was lifted around 30 minutes later, tracking data showed.

According to FlightAware, a total of 1,582 flights were cancelled globally yesterday. So far today 961 flights have been cancelled.

In its latest statement Manchester Airport has warned that flights to the region are still subject to delays and cancellations, with passengers urged to check with their airlines before they travel. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, all flights to the region are subject to cancellations and delays.

“This includes connecting services and some services that would usually have flown over the area to other destinations. Passengers due to travel to the region are advised to look out for updates from their airlines.”

The Manchester Evening News understands that the outbound Emirates flights carry minimal passengers, with the majority of those on board airline staff. It comes as the UK Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to the UAE. Inbound flights remain full with airlines bringing back stranded travellers to the UK.

Below is a found up of cancelled flights from Manchester Airport today, March 10.

Departures

• 7.45am Qatar Airways flight QE22 to Doha
• 8.25am Etihad Airways flight EY78 to Abu Dhabi
• 1.40pm Etihad Airways flight EY74 to Abu Dhabi
• 2.05pm Qatar Airways flight QR28 to Doha
• 9.30pm Qatar Airways flight QR24 to Doha

Arrivals

• 6am Qatar Airways flight QR21 to Doha
• 6.10am Etihad Airways flight EY77 to Abu Dhabi
• 12.15pm Etihad Airways flight EY73 to Abu Dhabi
• 12.20pm Qatar Airways flight QR27 to Doha
• 7.40pm Qatar Airways flight QR23 to Doha

For more of today’s top stories, click here.

Former US Open champion Gary Woodland has said he “can’t waste energy any more” hiding his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder after undergoing brain surgery in 2023.

Woodland, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2019, had an operation to remove a brain tumour in September 2023.

The American returned to the PGA Tour at the start of 2024 and has played regularly since, but has revealed he was diagnosed with PTSD about a year ago.

“I can’t waste energy any more hiding this, and I’m blessed with a lot of support out here on the Tour,” Woodland told the Golf Channel.

“I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying and I feel like I’m living a lie.”

The 41-year-old received the PGA Tour Courage Award in 2025 in recognition of his return to the sport following his surgery, but his return has been far from easy.

Woodland recalled an incident at the Procore Championship in California last year when symptoms overwhelmed him on the course.

“A walking scorer startled me, got close to me from behind. I pulled my caddie and said, ‘You can’t let anybody get behind me’,” Woodland explained.

“Next thing you know, I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry.”

Woodland said he decided to keep playing, against the advice of his caddie, because he was competing alongside two members of the US Ryder Cup team, for which he was about to serve as a vice captain.

“I went into every bathroom to cry the rest of the day. When I got done, I got in my car and got out of there,” he added.

“There are days when it’s tough – crying in the scoring trailer, running to my car just to hide it. I don’t want to live that way any more.”

Woodland said he has discussed his mental-health struggles with veterans and he is hopeful his return to golf can inspire others.

“I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams,” he said.

“I want to help people, too. I realise now I’ve got to help myself first and hopefully this is the first step in doing that.”

Megan Nicholls will be front and centre for ITV racing at the Cheltenham Festival having transitioned from jockey to pundit

Megan Nicholls will provide analysis for ITV Racing once again at the Cheltenham Festival this week. The 27-year-old is the daughter of perennial champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

The action from Prestbury Park will soon get underway as punters flock to the high point of the National Hunt season. Over 200,000 were in attendance across all four days of the Festival last year.

For those who won’t be heading to the Cotswolds, ITV will provide its usual coverage on every day of the meeting. Former Flat jockey Nicholls will be one of the broadcaster’s brightest stars.

She retired from a career in the saddle at just 25 to focus on media and has since become an ITV staple. We take a look at her iconic racing family and her former and current flame.

READ MORE: Get a FREE William Hill shop bet every day of the Cheltenham Festival

Nicholls’ father, Paul, is an iconic figure in the National Hunt sphere. He has been crowned Champion Trainer a staggering 14 times, operating out of Ditcheat in Somerset. He has trained over 3500 winners and has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on four occasions, training some of the game’s greatest horses, including Kauto Star, Denman and Big Buck’s.

Nicholls followed in her father’s footsteps to some degree and became a jockey, but she rode on the Flat, tallying 110 winners. Her sister, Olive, is an amateur National Hunt rider.

In 2022, at the age of 25, Nicholls decided to leave her riding career behind to focus full-time on bloodstock and the media. She made her ITV Racing debut in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.

Explaining her decision, she told the Racing Post: “I felt my riding career had hit a point where I was going back down. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with natural talent and you can work as hard as you want, but when you have people ahead of you it’s hard.”

Since her first appearance, Nicholls has often starred alongside the likes of Ed Chamberlin, Mick Fitzgerald and AP McCoy for ITV. She also features on Racing TV.

While she has left the riding behind, Nicholls did continue with a high-profile relationship after her retirement. She dated Group 1-winning jockey Kevin Stott.

The pair met while riding out in Dubai and they began seeing one another in late 2019/early 2020. Stott had previously had a trial with Premier League side Tottenham but reverted to riding after this footballing ambition fell apart.

Nicholls and Stott dated for two years before their relationship ended. Now, if social media posts are anything to go by, she may be seeing up-and-coming jockey, Tristan Durrell.

Durrell landed one of the biggest winners of his young career earlier this season when he steered the Dan Skelton-trained Panic Attack to Coral Gold Cup glory. Pictures of Durrell and Nicholls on dinner dates are commonplace on the ITV star’s Instagram.

Wireless earbuds have taken over the world, offering excellent sound and dramatic noise cancelling effectiveness all in a convenient package.

There are multiple things to consider, especially with the wide range of ‘true wireless’ earbuds on the market. Having overtaken all the best headphones (the over-ear sort) in 2020, wireless stereo earbuds now account for 72.6 per cent of the smart personal audio market in 2024, according to analyst Canalys, with 77 million units shipped.

However, despite Apple’s AirPods earning $18 billion in 2023, more than companies such as Nintendo and Spotify, AirPods aren’t necessarily the best wireless earbuds in terms of price, noise cancelling abilities or sound. I tried some of the best models, including Beats, Samsung and Sony, picking out my top 10, including one pair that costs less than £50.

If you are after more detail, the full, in-depth reviews for each style are further down. You can also find the answers to frequently asked questions for more information.

The best wireless earbuds: At a glance

JUMP TO THE REVIEWS

How to choose the best wireless earbuds for you

If you’re in the market for some new wireless earbuds, you need to figure out what you need them for.

James Roth, Head of Consumer Electronics at technology platform TG0, says: “True wireless earbuds offer a compact and lightweight option, making them great for on-the-go sports and travel. You’ll want earbuds that offer great sound quality, good battery life and ease of use, but it’s also worth looking out for waterproofing.“You probably won’t wear them in the bath, but proper waterproofing can prevent headphones from going ‘phut’ in heavy rain,” James says.

“Active noise cancelling (ANC) models – where the design reduces unwanted ambient sound – are a terrific choice for those listening on planes, trains and automobiles,” he adds. “Today’s best Bluetooth earphones can actually give the best noise cancelling headphones a run for their money on sound quality,” he says.

It’s worth doing a bit of research to get the best sound out of your earbuds. There are various different “codecs” – software which transmits data from your phone to your headphones – and these make a huge difference to sound quality, with Apt-X and LDAC codecs offering near CD quality sound for users of Android smartphones.

You’ll also want to weigh up your budget and how the buds fit in your ear, plus make sure the style you choose is compatible with your mobile phone.

How we test wireless earbuds

Artists revealed today (March 10) also include Dermot Kennedy, CMAT and Myles Smith on the Radio 1 Main Stage, with Alessi Rose, Ezra Collective, FLO, Holly Humberstone, Jorja Smith (Party Set), Maisie Peters and Odeal performing on the Radio 1 New Music Stage.

They join acts already announced across the weekend, including Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera, who headline on Friday, May 22, alongside a packed Saturday line-up featuring Zara Larsson, Louis Tomlinson, Lola Young and Nothing But Thieves.

Radio 1’s flagship live music festival will take place in Herrington Country Park, Sunderland from Friday, May 22, until Sunday, May 24, 2026, with more than 100,000 music fans expected to attend across the weekend.

The line-up for Sunday, May 24

Radio 1 Main Stage

• Charlie Hedges
• CMAT
• Dean McCullough
• Dermot Kennedy
• Jeremiah Asiamah
• Kehlani
• Maia Beth
• Melvin Odoom
• Myles Smith
• Nat O’Leary
• Niall Horan
• Olivia Dean
• Rickie Haywood-Williams
• Vicky Hawkesworth

Radio 1 New Music Stage

• Alessi Rose
• Ezra Collective
• FLO
• Holly Humberstone
• Jack Saunders
• Jorja Smith (Party Set)
• Maisie Peters
• Odeal

Tickets for Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, will be available from 5pm on Wednesday, March 11 and general admission tickets will cost £44.50 (£40.00 + £4.50 booking fee).

As with previous Big Weekends, tickets will be geographically weighted with an element of preference given to residents.

BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend (Image: PA MEDIA)

Thirty per cent of tickets will be reserved for those living in Sunderland; 60 per cent will be reserved for those living in the surrounding NECA region, while the remaining ten per cent of tickets will be available for the rest of the UK.

The booking process will be handled by Ticketmaster.

The station has also announced its outreach plans, with Radio 1’s Life Hacks hosting a series of live panels across the North East from Tuesday, March 24 to Friday, March 27, bringing honest conversations, practical advice and inspiring local voices directly to young people.

Taking place at East Durham College, Sunderland College, South Tyneside College and Red House Academy, the panels will explore topics such as building a future, navigating life after education, managing mental health and understanding modern relationships.

Olivia Dean (Image: Doug Peters/PA WIRE)

The sessions will feature local organisations, charities and entrepreneurs, connecting young people with support, opportunities and real-life experiences from across the area.

BBC Radio 1 will broadcast live from the festival site across the weekend, with performances and highlights available live and on demand across Radio 1’s iPlayer channel and BBC Sounds.

When is BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend?

Radio 1’s Big Weekend will take place over three days – May 22, 23 and 24.

Where is it being held?

The Big Weekend is being held at Herrington Park, in Sunderland this year. If you aren’t familiar of where that is, the park can be found opposite iconic landmark Penshaw Monument.

The last time it was held in the region was in 2019, in Middlesbrough, and it was held in Herrington Park in 2005.

Headliners back then included the Foo Fighters and The Black Eyed Peas.

How much are tickets?

Ticket prices have this week been confirmed – here’s how much you’ll need to pay to get in.

Friday

General admission – £34.50

VIP admission – £86.00

Saturday

General admission – £44.50

VIP admission – £106.00

Sunday

General admission – £44.50

VIP admission – £106.00

Where can I buy tickets?

The tickets will be available to buy via Ticketmaster, and you can find the ticket link by going on the BBC website.

When do they go on sale?

The ticket sale dates are staggered.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday (May 23 and 24) will go on sale on March 11.

Are tickets allocated by region?

Yes – the BBC say they have been put into three ‘pots’.

The first pot, which is 30 per cent of tickets, are allocated to Sunderland residents.

A further 60 per cent are for the wider North East including County Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland.

Then, the final 10 per cent will be available to the rest of the UK.

Can I go to all three days?

No. It has been confirmed that you can’t buy tickets for all three days.

You can buy a maximum of two tickets per person per day.

You are allowed to go on Friday and either Saturday or Sunday, but not both.

Are there age restrictions?

Yes, there are age restrictions.

You can only attend on Friday if you are 18 or over.

No restrictions are placed on Saturday or Sunday, but anyone aged 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Three ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle and the Magpas air ambulance were sent to the scene

Two people have been taken to hospital following a crash on a major Cambridgeshire city road. Police were called to a collision between a car and a lorry this morning on Boongate, Peterborough.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Police were called shortly after 11am to a collision between a car and an HGV on the northbound slip road of the A1139 to Boongate.”

Three ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle and the Magpas air ambulance were sent to the scene. Two people have been transported to Peterborough City Hospital by road for further care.

Firefighters also attended the scene and two casualties were trapped inside the car.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters used specialist equipment to release the casualties from their vehicle, before they were left in the care of the ambulance service. Crews returned to their stations by 12.30pm.”

The road was completely closed from the Carr Road exit and drivers were advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes. The roads have since been reopened.

A spokesperson for East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Boongate, Peterborough, at 11.19am.”

The spokesperson continued: “We sent three ambulances, an ambulance officer vehicle and the Magpas air ambulance to the scene. Two patients were transported to Peterborough City Hospital by road for further care.”

A study has been launched to investigate possible transport options for Cambridge

Tram and light rail are among the transport options to be considered for Cambridge. A study has been launched to examine potential mass rapid transit options to support future growth in the city.

Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), have launched the preparation of a Project level Strategic Outline Business Case for a potential Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system in the city.

The study is to investigate creating fast, and reliable public transport like trams to reduce traffic congestion and connect key areas.

This has been commissioned by the Department for Transport, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the HM Treasure.

The new commission will include identifying and appraising a longlist of transport options, from lower scale interventions to full MRT model possibilities, including tram, light rail, bus rapid transit, and automated systems.

It also includes developing a transparent shortlist of viable options, assessed for their ability to support the long term growth of the city, feasibility, deliverability, value for money, and environmental impact.

Philip Harker, Technical Director at Cambridge Growth Company, said: “Congestion in Cambridge is already holding back our communities and our economy.

“This Strategic Outline Business Case is a crucial first step in making the case for the investment needed to help people move efficiently and sustainably into and across the city.”

Judith Barker, Executive Director, at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority said: “Greater Cambridge is one of the UK’s economic engines, and it needs transport that matches that ambition.

“This study helps us understand what it will take to deliver the Mayor’s vision for a Mass Rapid Transit system that supports long‑term growth and improves how people move around the area.”

This early phase MRT study will be factored into preparations for the Greater Cambridge Transport Strategy which is due for approval in November 2026.

The ‘GC’ is back for the show’s spin-off after she quit I’m A Celebrity after 72 hours in 2014

Gemma Collins has already defended herself for crying ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here‘ as she claimed a ‘dirty prank’ by one of her co-stars forced her into it as she returned to the hit show.

The reality star, who shot to fame on The Only Way is Essex, is among the former campmates who will all return to the jungle for the new series of spin-off, I’m A Celebrity…South Africa.

The ITV programme, which is returning for a second run and will be fronted by Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, sees former jungle stars from the Australian version of the show take on even more challenges in another country and while they have all already proved they can survive the gruelling bushtucker trials of the jungle, in South Africa, the trials are even tougher.

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Gemma, who quit I’m A Celebrity after 72 hours in 2014, will be giving the challenge show, which has been pre-recorded, another go, will be joined by Olympian Sir Mo Farah, former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, champion boxer David Haye and actor Adam Thomas.

They’ve also recorded the show alongside football manager Harry Redknapp and soap actress Beverley Callard well as former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, comedian Seann Walsh, pop star Sinitta, Red Dwarf star Craig Charles and ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard.

And following her short-lived stint in the Australian jungle, Gemma has already defended herself for shouting the show’s famous title as she almost quit again. “Harry played a dirty prank on me and I actually fell for it,” Gemma said at the show’s launch.

“He’s a fraudster, he’s so funny. I’m not going to say exactly what happened but I did get him back!” Sitting next to him at the event, she added: “This guy deserves an Oscar because I fully believed him… It led me to say, ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ He scared me so much, I was like, ‘Nah, I’m outta here! I’m out, that’s it!’”

The 45-year-old also revealed that after the show was announced by ITV today, she nearly pulled out of it but was put in her place by her make-up artist. “It didn’t work out for me the first time around in there and ever since it’s been like this black cloud hanging over my head,” she told The Sun.

“Obviously I’m older now and I just thought, I have to do this. It was one regret that I had that I left. I was absolutely bricking it. I was petrified. My makeup artist slapped me at Heathrow Airport because I actually said I don’t think I can actually go through with this.

“But do you know what? I took a deep breath. I went in strong. And to be honest, I think I shut it down. It’s not the GC in there. It’s Gemma Collins as you’ve never seen her before. You’ll see me vulnerable in there. I was so stripped bare going in there. And because I knew it was so disastrous the time before, I had no chance to back out of any of it.”

COVID vaccines saved millions of lives, but months into the rollout, a small number of people began developing dangerous blood clots in unusual parts of the body. These only happened after vaccines that used a modified adenovirus to deliver its payload – such as the AstraZeneca vaccine. Why these blood clots formed was a mystery – until now.

The condition was named vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, or VITT. It happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks one of the body’s own proteins, called platelet factor 4.

Antibodies that recognise platelet factor 4 are actually part of normal immune responses, but in VITT the antibodies that develop are unusually sticky. They cling on to platelet factor 4, pulling together many molecules and forming large clusters of proteins called “immune complexes”, leading to dangerous blood clots.

Over the last few years, we have been working on the biology of VITT, primarily focusing on how these antibodies activate platelets. However, the way that vaccination triggers these antibodies to form was one of the main mysteries in this disease.

Now an international team of scientists in Australia, Canada and Germany has provided an answer. In an elegant set of experiments, they showed that virtually all patients with VITT share a distinctive pattern in their antibodies.

They studied 100 patients with VITT from around the world. By chance, two of these patients had donated blood in the past, meaning samples were taken before vaccination and stored in German blood service freezers. These samples turned out to be the key that unlocked the mystery.

The team were able to show that the antibodies involved in VITT begin as antibodies that recognise an adenoviral protein called protein VII. These antibodies probably came from the immune system’s memory of earlier adenovirus infections – which are common in childhood and cause mild cold-like symptoms.

During normal immune responses to infection and vaccination, tiny random genetic changes occur in cells that produce antibodies. This is normal and these changes help the immune system refine antibodies so they fight infections more effectively.

In all the patients with VITT, the researchers found the same change. By changing just one small part of the antibody, it suddenly gained the ability to bind platelet factor 4 very strongly.

Previous research by the same team had already shown that most patients with VITT carry a particular immune gene variant that shapes the structure of the antibodies they produce.

The new study helps explain why this matters. The mutation identified by the researchers only occurs in antibodies built on this genetic background, allowing them to grab onto platelet factor 4 extremely tightly.

This discovery helps explain why VITT is so rare. Two unlikely events must occur at the same time. First, a person must inherit the particular immune gene variant. Second, a rare mutation must occur in one of the antibody-producing cells responding to the adenovirus. Only when both events happen together does the immune system begin targeting platelet factor 4.

Why do we need to understand VITT?

You might wonder why this is still important. The pandemic is over and surely VITT is no longer seen?

But adenovirus-based vaccines remain an important tool. They are versatile, inexpensive and easy to deploy worldwide. When the next pandemic arrives, vaccines made using this approach could once again save millions of lives.

We also occasionally see patients with syndromes that look exactly like VITT but without any link to vaccination. These cases can sometimes be triggered by viral infections, including adenovirus and cytomegalovirus.

A similar process has also been implicated in people with recurring blood clots over many years, repeated miscarriages and stroke in a newborn baby caused by antibodies from the mother that target platelet factor 4.

Understanding exactly how VITT happens means scientists may now be able to modify future vaccines to avoid triggering this rare immune reaction.