Thread by @drjanaway

Thanks for the opportunity, Laurence. So lets take a moment.

Two years ago we had no vaccine and relatively new virus. We have since been fighting between public health measures and viral spread/mutation

https://twitter.com/LozzaFox/status/1471236773728731141

As a virus continues to spread, it gains opportunities to mutate. This happens in any species as part of reproduction, and some mutations are good for it, others bad for it, and others bad for us.

The emergence of 'variants' such as delta and omicron are those that have mutations that have enabled greater survival. This means that they have adapted more to the environment, including the vaccines.

This is not new, and happens with the flu (which is why we have boosters yearly,) but with Covid, due to its lethality and spread, it is much more dangerous. But why is it so dangerous?

1) It has a higher mortality rate with vulnerable adults, including those of older age/ w/diabetes/
2) Admissions means bed/staff/resource use, so treatment of other conditions is delayed i.e you cant treat your cancer patient if there are no beds and covid is worse for them

3) Public misinformation and rumours, confusion with 'freedoms' and the idiot words of commentators have misled us into thinking this is all an over-reaction. Chris Whitty showed us tonight that is wrong.

4) Vaccines are not perfect. This is new technology for a new threat. But the risks of not taking it, for most of us, are higher than taking it, and especially helpful in protecting those that cannot.

There is a temptation to fall into rebellion over all of this. It sucks. But its a virus, it does not care. We are doing our best, but we need to do more. And here, in this thread particularly, it starts with responsibility.

GB news, Laurence Fox, Darren Grimes etc are not doctors. Their freedom of speech is not limited either. And this gives them a special privilege to chat shit without any responsibility for the impact.

Masks work, they do not cause suffocation, or else 50 years of surgery would have failed. Vaccines work, the risk of death is much much lower. Lockdowns are such, but they are very effective. Any delay in treating covid - means a delay to treating everything.

I work in mental health, I have seen the impact, but believe me, the impact of dying, losing family, or longer lockdowns will not help. This is a monster we need to face head-on, and the quicker we kill it the better.

I write here because Laurence attracts people who fight back against this view. That's fine, I support your right, but please look at the data. Don't be swayed by this faux nationalism and false protection. This man prays at fallen masks, not people.

Yes, pharma may make money, that's capitalism for you, but so do seatbelt makers and those who create fire-extinguishers. There is always money in services/products that help people. The presence of one does not remove the other.

This is a moment to make a choice. The rational and researched guidance endorsed by the medical establishment, or this guy here. Or Darren Grimes. Or GB news. Pick the right side here, these lot will just find another snake oil to sell.

PS: I am not paid to make these comments. I have no partnership with pharma. I am sat in my pyjamas after day shift on a covid + psychiatric ward. I am triple vaxxed, and feel damn fine.

No doubt Lozza will ignore this, or make some snippy comment, but remember what happened last time he tried this with me. Anger and spite won't win this, but listening and helping each other will.

And if you want to send me an angry message, tell me to kill myself, fuck off, etc (as is common,) just remember that I will be at work tomorrow and may be delayed in replying. We are all good people underneath, so let's show it.