10 Sep 2021 | Full Fact's weekly news

FACT CHECK
What the National Insurance rise means for the tax burden

The government has announced plans to raise National Insurance by 2.5 percentage points for employees (split between employers and their staff) and 1.25 percentage points for the self-employed.

Following this, there’s been some confusion in the press about how the total tax take stacks up with historical comparisons. There have been reports saying this will take the tax burden to its “highest ever level,” to its highest level “in peacetime,” and to its highest level “since 1948.”

Or is it “since 1950”, as reported by the Financial Times? Or “since 1969”, according to Sky News?

We investigate the historical context behind why so many different comparisons have been made.

The tax burden

FACT CHECK
Daily Mail understates the risks of Covid-19 to children

The online edition of the Daily Mail claimed that no healthy children have so far died from Covid-19 in the UK. Sadly that’s not true.

A recent study of Covid deaths in England alone, just up to the end of February 2021, found that “six of the 25 [children and young people under 18] who died of SARS-CoV-2 appeared to have no underlying health conditions.”

The article also said that “fewer than 300 children have been hospitalised with Covid in England since the pandemic began and all but around 20 had underlying health issues.” But these figures come from a study referring only to the numbers of admissions to intensive care—not all admissions to hospital.

There were a total of 6,338 admissions to hospital, among which 2,923 involved children with no underlying health conditions.

The sources

UPCOMING EVENT

Fake News, post-show Q&A

Sat 18 September, 7.30pm, Bridge Theatre, London

Written and starring Osman Baig, Fake News explores the world of press integrity, digital news and one journalist’s unexpected journey after not getting all the facts.

On Saturday 18th September our Deputy CEO, Mevan Babakar, will join Osman on stage for a post-show Q&A. They will be discussing the complexities of the UK’s information landscape, journalism in today’s digital world and Full Fact’s role in finding, exposing and countering the harms of bad information.

We’d love to see our supporters there so if you’re interested in picking up a ticket, please visit The Bridge Theatre’s website for more information.

Get your tickets

FACT CHECK

How soon after childbirth can you have a Covid-19 vaccine?

As part of our partnership with the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, we’ve been asked how long somebody should wait after giving birth before having a Covid-19 vaccine.

Covid-19 vaccines are recommended at any stage of pregnancy or any time following childbirth by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Public Health England confirmed to us that women can have the vaccines at any time during pregnancy or after birth. They told us the same is the case for those who have had caesarean sections.

PHE and the NHS state that the risk of Covid-19 itself in pregnancy is greatest later in pregnancy. Therefore RCOG recommends that where possible, women should receive both doses before giving birth, or before entering the third trimester.

If you have a question about vaccines and pregnancy, you can contact our fact checkers directly on our helpline: 07521770995.

Vaccines and pregnancy

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