Thread by @dgurdasani1

Completely stand with @Kit_Yates_Maths whose been subjected to a disgusting hit piece - in the Daily Fail. Research shows huge reductions in flu(95%⬇️), bronchilotis (82%), measles(90%), meningitis(50%) hosp in children during the pandemic. Why shouldn't we aim for this?

Since when is 'doing more' to prevent flu and prevent deaths from flu a bad thing? If simple things like better ventilation, masks can do this- for all airborne pathogens, then worthwhile also considering these additional benefits- It's clear that much more disease is preventable

Interested in the UK media culture where scientists who're talking about saving potentially thousands of lives every year with simple measures we need anyway for SARS-CoV-2 are targeted in this manner. While those who talk about 'acceptable deaths' are widely platformed.

I guess giving a shit isn't popular. Why not embrace mass death, suffering, and let tens of thousands of people - old, vulnerable, poor die when simple measures that aren't even terribly restrictive could prevent them? According to the Daily Fail we should just let people die.

I don't see Kit advocating for lockdowns either as a way to prevent flu- but well that's the Daily Fail for you & had anyone in govt been listening to IndieSAGE to put in pre-emptive measures it's very likely long lockdowns would've been prevented. But strawmen are useful I guess

Please do follow @Kit_Yates_Maths if you don't already- a beacon of light in a sea of darkness that is UK science and media. I'm sure the messaging he's put out has likely allowed many to protect themselves better. We should support scientists like him.

#TheyAttackWeAmplify

BMJ paper the above figures are taken from below:
bmj.com/content/376/bm…

Also, I'd love for the Daily Fail to show evidence that flu has caused 400 daily deaths!!! The numbers keep increasing without evidence - just so we can justify and normalise mass death of vulnerable people. Started with Triggle - and goes on now... truly, post-truth!