Dr. Haryax Pathak Profile picture
General Surgery Resident. Writer/Poet/Photographer/Illusionist. Proud #Hindu #Brahmin Medical Ethics. Research. Policy. Awareness. #MedEd #MedTwitter #SciComm
Mar 14, 2022 29 tweets 11 min read
In an alternate universe...

History Class in school.

The teacher takes the students on a journey through the freedom struggle. 1857. Jallianwala. Bengal. INA. 1942-1947. Partition.

Kids confused.

They beg the question: Why the partition? The loss of life? In an alternate universe...

History Class in school.

The teachers takes the students on a journey through the rich history of the land of Kashmir. The people. The knowledge. 1990. The Genocide.

Kids confused.

They beg the question: Why the genocide? So much suffering?
Mar 13, 2022 5 tweets 1 min read
10 minutes into @vivekagnihotri's #TheKashmirFiles and....

Damn!!

😶😶😶 "Ah! Pandit. Upper class, privileged Pandit."

Of course.
Mar 8, 2022 5 tweets 1 min read
The Russia-Ukraine War 2022

PART-1 RUS-UKR

Ukr: I wanna nuclear weapons.
Rus: Nah!
Ukr: I wanna join NATO.
Rus: Nah!
Ukr: I wanna join EU.
Rus: Nah!
Ukr: I wanna...
Rus: Nah! PART-2 US-UKR

Ukr: I wanna nuclear weapons.
US: Yoo bro!
Ukr: I wanna join NATO.
US: Yoo bro!
Ukr: I wanna join EU.
US: Yoo bro!
Ukr: I wanna...
US: Yoo bro!
Dec 29, 2021 16 tweets 14 min read
Worried about #Omicron #COVID19?

Let the doctors, epidemiologists, govt expert committees worry about the data from other nations and what it means for India (or any other nation - everything below writing applies to all).

As a layman, here's what you need to do: 1. MASK UP. Cannot stress more. N95 or 3ply surgical. I know not everyone can afford N95. Cover your face with a good quality mask as far as possible.

2. SOCIAL DISTANCING. Yep. Same old "do gaj ki doori".

3. INDOOR VENTILATION. Ensure adequate ventilation indoors at all times.
Sep 28, 2021 22 tweets 15 min read
NATIONAL HEALTH ID

Everyone is talking about the National Health ID, with concerns surrounding the need for a universal ID, privacy etc.

Let's delve into some details about this project, benefits and working.

(Already generated the IDs for my family.)

What is the National Digital Health ID?

➡️ Part of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

➡️ Digital health ID like your Aadhar Card.

➡️ Unique 14-digit number.

➡️ Can be used for identification and sharing of an individual's personal health records with healthcare providers.
May 8, 2021 27 tweets 7 min read
COVID-19 Vaccines: What We Know So Far!

- By Dr. Vipin M. Vashishtha, MD @vipintukur

The Global Scenario:

➡️ Ten different Covid-19 vaccines have shared their Phase III data.

2 based on mRNA,
4 on viral vector,
3 on inactivated
1 on protein subunit platform.

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➡️After 4 months of their trials, now there is a definite gradient in their performance:

Highly efficacious: mRNA,
Moderate: Viral vector,
Low to Moderate: inactivated vaccines.

(based on Trial Data and Post-trial Population Data)

2/n
Apr 30, 2021 18 tweets 10 min read
Let's talk about Vaccines.

Still seeing a lot of confusion going around about the Mechanism of vaccines in use. I will attempt to explain it as simply as possible.

Please read, and share.

So, think of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as Ferrero Rocher. 😋😋

1/n Let's see the structure of the virus first.

Spike Protein = Nutty spikes
Lipid Membrane = Outer Chocolate Layer
Nucleocapsid = Wafery Layer
RNA = Innermost Chocolate

That's putting it very simply for the purpose of understanding.

2/n
Apr 28, 2021 6 tweets 6 min read
What a day!!!!

1:30 pm -Live on @BBCNews
4:30 pm - Live on @bbc5live
5:30 pm - A wonderful 1 hour session with @HER_WORLD_INDIA @RBakshee
6:30 pm - Probably the best webinar I've had. With @ProfSomashekhar @DevPalkar @iamcrazybunny @pankti4299 @AlishaAkhani

That was fun! Link to the BBC National News Broadcast @BBCNews

instagram.com/tv/CONJpuxp_9U…
Apr 26, 2021 31 tweets 19 min read
In view of the rising #misinformation campaign, I'll attempt to debunk some of the most common and widespread myths surrounding #COVID19India.

Read.
Understand.
Share.
Educate others.

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➡️PREVENTION MYTHS

MYTH:
Wearing masks will reduce O2 and cause CO2 poisoning.

FACT:
Masks DON'T affect the O2-CO2 gas exchange at all. Masks won't reduce the oxygen or increase CO2 in your blood.

A study was also done to prove it. - atsjournals.org/doi/10.1513/An…

#MaskUpIndia
2/n
Apr 25, 2021 17 tweets 5 min read
Just blessing your TL with some cute/pissed Jungle Babblers.

A caption contest maybe? Anyone who's interested.

P.S. A surprise waits for you at the end.
P.P.S. Yes, all pics clicked by me.

1. 2.
Apr 16, 2021 6 tweets 4 min read
Psychology says humour is one of the most mature defence mechanisms. If you enjoy this humourous video depicting the state of affairs in our country right now, share this and let us know.

Wear masks, Practice Distancing.

- Dr. Devashish Palkar (@DevPalkar)
Dr. Haryax Pathak P.S. Yeh mat bolna Yeh video Anti-MODI hai. It features RaGa and Didi too.
Basically it's anti-stupidity. 😁🙏
Mar 17, 2021 9 tweets 8 min read
A Super-Spreader Wedding

27 Feb: Wedding of a distant cousin brother. Due to regulations of 100 people, my parents weren't there. (Thankfully).

Some of the invitees from the groom's side as Baaraatis (wedding procession), went together in a luxury bus.

And so it began. The wedding concluded. No hiccups. All fun and frolic.

A week later: One of the guests, a 65 yr old male, tested positive.

He was part of that Baaraati bus.

Admitted to hospital with severe symptoms.
Mar 14, 2021 14 tweets 22 min read
#COVID19 VACCINE FAQs.

This is an attempt from me with the team at @icart_india and @giridar100 to answer the major queries and doubts anyone may have regarding the COVID-19 vaccines in India.

You can download the pdf from here: drive.google.com/file/d/1o6K10J…

Do read and share.

1/6 Have tried to address some of the most common misconceptions and fears surrounding the vaccines and their effects.

You can download the pdf here: drive.google.com/file/d/1o6K10J…

2/6
Feb 19, 2021 14 tweets 11 min read
#COVID19Vaccine

Addressing some prevalent misconceptions. Pl. read and share.

➡️ AIM of Vaccines
➡️ How Vaccines Work
➡️ Side-Effects / AEFI
➡️ Process of Vaccination
➡️ Registration for >50 yr old
➡️ Availability in Open Market
➡️ New Variants and Vaccines

1/n ➡️ AIM of Vaccines

> Prevent COVID-19 in susceptible individuals.
> Prevent severe COVID-19 infection, thereby reducing the need for hospital admission, ventilation, ICU admission, and death.
> Herd immunity by vaccination.

2/n
Jan 13, 2021 26 tweets 22 min read
#COVID19Vaccine #India

The vaccination drive for COVID19 will soon begin in India.

Things to know:

➡️Why get vaccinated?
➡️Misconceptions
➡️Vaccines In India
➡️Vaccine Priority
➡️Process of Vaccination
➡️Co-WIN website/app
➡️Side-effects/AEFI
➡️Communication

1/n ➡️Why Get Vaccinated?

>Prevention of COVID19 infection.
>Prevention of the long term health risks of COVID19 infection.
>92 million cases and 1.9 million deaths due to COVID by now.
>Vaccine + Masks and Distancing are essential to curb the pandemic.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

2/n
Jan 10, 2021 11 tweets 6 min read
I did not want to get into the #Bhopal #COVAXIN controversy. I was holding back.

But after seeing the response from some "health reporters", I had to come out and say it:

DON'T TURN YOUR JOURNALISM INTO ACTIVISM. There's a fine line between demanding accountability from the Govt / Bharat Biotech and eroding the trust of the people in the vaccine.

To all those journos: You are crossing that line.
Dec 29, 2020 29 tweets 24 min read
#LongCOVID is real and bad.

Here is one of the most extensive and comprehensive long term follow-up of COVID patients (3762 respondents) with long lasting symptoms/complaints.

medrxiv.org/content/10.110… via @ahandvanish @GinaAssaf et al. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

A thread on LONG COVID.

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Points covered:

➡️ What is Long COVID?
➡️ Who can get Long COVID?
➡️ Why does Long COVID occur?
➡️ Symptoms of Long COVID
➡️ Some literature on Long COVID
➡️ Concerns about Long COVID
➡️ Instructions for the Common Man

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Dec 28, 2020 7 tweets 3 min read
What is this obsession with my bio?

And more importantly, what does it have to do with the cost of medical education across India?

Please enlighten me.

And stop engaging in personal attacks. I have ever brought up anybody's caste/religion in my conversations. Why did you? *never
Dec 6, 2020 33 tweets 20 min read
#COVID19vaccines - #IndiaFightsCorona

➡️News/Updates - India
➡️Different Vaccines, Different Mechanisms
➡️Time-frame and Roll-out
➡️What To Expect?
➡️Got Vaccinated. What now?
➡️Adverse Reactions???
➡️Countering Misinformation

A thread.

1/n ➡️News/Updates - #India

> @pfizer has applied for Emergency Approval in India.
> @BharatBiotech COVAXIN - Phase 3 trials.
> @ZydusUniverse ZyCoV-D - Expected to start Phase 3 trials in Dec/Jan

2/n
Nov 29, 2020 28 tweets 16 min read
So, here's an opinion piece from @WSJopinion.

"A Global Covid Vaccine Heist"

A thread.

wsj.com/articles/a-glo…

1/n
Some background: Many LMIC member nations, including India, South Africa, are bidding the @wto to waive certain Patent Protections on the @pfizer and @moderna_tx vaccines so that they can manufacture the generic versions of the vaccines on their own for wider distribution.

2/n
Nov 25, 2020 28 tweets 19 min read
Hey #MedTwitter

As promised, taking this thread further, I'll highlight a few more aspects about #COVID19.

A) TRANSMISSION and SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONS
B) WHAT IS SUPER-SPREADING?
C) WHAT IS R0?

1/n A) TRANSMISSION and SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONS

So, what are the various mechanisms of COVID-19 transmission?

As defined by the @CDCgov, these are the 3 mechanisms of COVID-19 spread:

➡️Fomites (least important)
➡️Droplet Spread
➡️Aerosol

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

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