A few things on my mind
🧵🧵 1)
-#SARSCoV2 is spread by aerosols at short and long range— not sure why there is still debate about this. Seeing tweets from Canada that this is still up in the air- no pun intended cc @DFisman@kprather88@linseymarr
2)
-global vaccine equity is an afterthought for rich countries; this is exactly how we thought this would go— for pharma, it’s about $$ & always was. Charity won’t solve this issue. It’s a structural problem cc @ThomasPogge@amymaxmen@RanuDhillon@rajpanjabi
3)
Boosting fully vaccinated folks w/ mild co-morbidities won’t stop the epidemic here — fully vaxx’d transmitting much less
4) Multifactorial strategy still needed— rapid antigen tests can stop superspreaders
— better masks key especially for those who are immunocompromised and/or high risk of exposure
—improving ventilation & safer air in public spaces is a must cc @j_g_allen@michaelmina_lab
5) -#SARSCoV2 is going to be endemic— but that was clear for a very long time
We need to have clearer endpoints for where things are headed; what risks are tolerable as a society (diff for vulnerable individuals) — what our goals are; & communicate this clearly cc @ashishkjha
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From @linseymarr excellent piece in @IDSAInfo CID journal, re transmission of respiratory viruses
"This dichotomy overlooks the reality that respiratory droplets of all sizes, incl aerosols, are most concentrated close to the source (i.e., the infected individual) and that..."
"exposure at all but uncomfortably close distances is dominated by inhalation rather than the impaction of large droplets that are sprayed onto mucous membranes"
Why does this all matter? Because functionally it changes the type of protection that is most needed
And it is critical to acknowledge that there has a been a paradigm shift on this topic.
At my old stomping grounds @BrighamWomens our excellent infection prevention team shifted their views over time, as more evidence emerged that short-range aerosols contributed the most
2/ while the US is going to be purchasing “hundreds of millions” more doses to donate— winning a pandemic that hinges on the generosity or altruism of wealthy countries w/ histories of exploitation is problematic & likely short lived.
3/ The global vaccine supply issue & need for more decentralized production + technology transfers for scale up is likely the most urgent global dilemma facing the world.
Is it being regarded with the same level of urgency?
People who test positive for #SARSCoV2 with a high viral load who are sent back home to isolate should be given a box of surgical masks for their family members to reduce home-based cluster spreading.
I wish we had done this last year. We can still do this now.
2/ Ideally this would be N95 masks— if we can get there, that would be ideal.
But at minimum, surgical masks which I think can be done immediately; & equipped with mask fitters, if possible.
This is most important in crowded homes with high risk folks, & poor ventilation
1/ As much as people push the “personal responsibility” narrative, so too should they remember when we were telling people to “stay home” when their very livelihoods depended on not staying home— the same low wage workers who ended up being the majority of patients we treated
2/ Personal responsibility to avoid getting infected with #covid19 - for many of my patients last year- ended when it meant they couldn’t get a living wage. For them, the decision was really health v health- w/ no good options.
3/ We are quick to view the lives & challenges of others through our own lens of responsibility- one that is often biased towards the privileges we have in our own lives. This is precisely how “stay home” became a social media movement early on by those who could stay home
CDC has added a new line about use of N95 masks for the general public now that “availability…has increased”
We should have used the Defense Production Act last year to overcome the supply issue
But more importantly- we must ensure we aren’t caught w our pants down next time
2/ In May 2020 we wrote our first piece about how we can get out of this epidemic— a key part of it was ensuring the general public had access to #bettermasks
This was well before vaccines. This was when the debate was focused on ‘virus vs economy’
1/ This week I have treated multiple cases of #covid19 that were fully vaccinated several months ago; all were elderly & mostly immunocompromised. A few became quite sick.
A short thread
2/ This is a reminder: if you have high risk folks at home who were vaccinated near the start of 2021, it is worth being extra careful around them.
Avoid high risk areas of transmission; & if you must, then please wear a surgical mask or higher grade if you have it. #covid19
3/ While spread from fully vaccinated folks to others is unlikely, it’s not impossible.
It happens. And risk higher if community transmission is high; also highest indoors, crowds, poor ventilation