Thread by @math_rachel

If there was a vaccine for cholera, would you be willing to drink sewage-contaminated water?

"We are constantly breathing in one another’s lung secretions." @sarahzhang 1/

https://twitter.com/math_rachel/status/1472366395253870593?s=20

For decades, governments have passed legislation & invested heavily in food safety, sanitation, & drinking water for public health. By contrast, airborne pathogens & respiratory infections are addressed weakly, if at all. 2/

science.org/doi/full/10.11…

Ireland has > 2.5 million buildings, yet half of the people who died from Covid there were infected in fewer than 400 buildings 3/

https://twitter.com/Orla_Hegarty/status/1459614891627663361

Many governments enforce standards to reduce the health cost associated with poor OUTDOOR air quality, yet INDOOR air quality is a "regulatory no-man's land" 4/

abc.net.au/news/health/20…

"This is an INDOOR PANDEMIC. You are 20 times more likely to get infected indoors than outdoors" -- Professor @jljcolorado 5/

Informative thread with helpful graphics:

https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1463200650494316550?s=20

Another great thing about airborne mitigations (high-quality, well-fitting masks; improved ventilation; air filters) is that they help fight ALL airborne illness, including colds, flus, & future covid variants (yes, there will be more variants) 6/

theatlantic.com/health/archive…

Many politicians understand the importance of good ventilation and upgrade their own workspaces (although tough luck to the children in their districts, who don't get the same consideration). 7/

https://twitter.com/math_rachel/status/1464827214298443780?s=20

I support vaccination and have had 3 doses. However, vaccination alone is not enough. 8/

https://twitter.com/math_rachel/status/1471339971596324871?s=20

I think @ToshiAkima is correct that Ventilation+ is better framing than Vaccination+
- will continue to be new variants
- even "mild" illness in vaccinated people can lead to LongCOVID
- waning immunity
- most people have not had 3 doses yet 9/

https://twitter.com/ToshiAkima/status/1472569403078483973?s=20

TIL there is a cholera vaccine, although the immunity it provides wanes significantly with time (85% protection in first 6 months, only 50% protection after 2 years) 10/

https://twitter.com/ariccio/status/1473516111773765634?s=20