Thread by @Aaron_Derfel

1) Throughout the pandemic, Sweden has distinguished itself dubiously from its Scandinavian neighbors with its much more laissez-faire approach, even at one point promoting the now-discredited notion of herd immunity. And last Wednesday, it claimed the #COVID pandemic was over.

2) In recent days, a number of Canadian provinces have rushed to eliminate public health protections – in effect, following Sweden’s example. In this thread, I will compare how the two countries have fared in the #pandemic – from public health measures to vaccination.

3) First, though, it’s worth examining the impact of the #pandemic on the death rates of the two countries. Sweden, with a population of 10.3 million, has to date declared a cumulative total of 16,501 #COVID deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

4) Canada, with a population (of 38 million) that is nearly four times greater Sweden’s, has recorded a little over two times as many #pandemic deaths as the Scandinavian nation: 35,439. Until very recently, Canada was much more stringent in public health protections than Sweden.

5) The latest seven-day average, compiled by Québec’s public health institute, shows Sweden with a rate of 4.1 #COVID deaths per million population, compared with a rate of 3.2 for Canada. This likely reflects Sweden’s ramp-up in booster vaccinations.

6) In fact, Sweden has put more emphasis on #COVID boosters than Canada, which has likely blunted its #Omicron-fuelled and rising death wave. This should give pause to anti-vaxxers who cite Sweden as some sort of pandemic paradise. Please see the vaccine booster chart below.

7) Throughout the #pandemic, Sweden has consistently posted much higher mortality waves than Canada, likely reflecting its limited use of public health protections. Please review the comparative chart below by Our World in Data.

8) What has made the difference for Canada is that it has promoted vaccination since the doses became available while maintaining sound public health measures. The chart below by Our World in Data tracks Canada’s much higher “stringency” index of measures than Sweden’s.

9) But of late, Canadian politicians seem to be ceding to the demands of a minority of intensely self-absorbed, scientifically benighted, and sanctimonious protesters who have been denying the freedoms of the majority of peaceful, hardworking Canadians to go about their lives.

10) The lesson to be drawn from this comparative review of Canada and Sweden is that vaccines alone are not enough to fight #COVID. Easy-to-follow public health protections are also required to help us all gain our freedom back from the #pandemic. End of thread.