Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

You can paste full URL like: https://x.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649
or just the ID like: 1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Sabina Vohra-Miller Profile picture
Sabina Vohra-Miller
@SabiVM
Dr Public Health candidate | MSc Pharmacology/Toxicology | Vohra Miller Foundation w @craigmillr | Unambiguous Science | First Exposure | South Asian Health Nw
4 subscribers
Jan 12 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
A new longitudinal cohort study found that children who were sick more often in early childhood were more likely to continue being sick in later childhood with more moderate to severe infections and require more antibiotic therapies. /1 Early childhood infections do NOT strengthen your immune system...they only make you sicker throughout childhood. Data from a new study /2 This was a longitudinal cohort study of children from birth to age 10-13 years from the Danish population-based birth cohort between November 2008-2010. Children were monitored for infection diagnoses and antibiotic prescriptions until February 1, 2024, by when they were aged 10- or 13-years. Children with immune deficiencies or congenital diseases were excluded. Additionally, an extensive list of confounders/biases including social and environmental risk factors were take into consideration and included in the analysis. A total of 614 children from birth to 3 years had completed follow...
Aug 27, 2024 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
Canada specific FAQs on the updated Covid-19 vaccines
🧵 1/8 Image Options available:
Pfizer and Moderna: both of these will target the KP.2 variant.

The mRNA vaccines are anticipated to be available around the middle of October.

Unfortunately Canada did NOT purchase any Novavax for 2024-2025.
2/8 Options available in canada Health Canada has received submissions from both Pfizer and Moderna for the updated COVID-19 vaccines. Both of these will target the KP.2 variant. The mRNA vaccines are anticipated to be available around the middle of October. Currently, KP.3.1.1 is the dominant COVID-19 variant, overtaking parent linage of KP.3 and KP.2 variants. Unfortunately Canada did NOT purchase any Novavax for 2024-2025. This is partially because of lower uptake of this vaccine, and also because Novavax had already committed to vaccines targeted towards the JN.1 variant (predecessor of...
Jul 22, 2024 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
We are in a summer COVID surge and this has lead to many questions! In this post @LizMarnik and I share things to consider to protect yourself, what we both do & consider in our own actions and recommendations for others to help make society safe & equitable for all.
🧵 1/8 WE ARE IN A COVID SURGE. WHAT THINGS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER? Why are cases increasing? Mostly due to new variants, summer behaviours such as travel and really, because that’s just how pandemics work.
2/8 Why are cases increasing? 1. New variants: KP.2 and KP.3 make up a large percentage of the COVID-19 cases right now. These are two new variants that have differences compared to prior variants. This means that prior infection and vaccination doesn't give as much protection for these newer variants. Fall vaccines will target JN.1 (Novavax) or KP.2 (mRNA) but these are not yet available. 2. Summer behaviors: As the weather warms, people move indoors to air conditioned indoor settings. Summer also brings with it things like large parties and gatherings, new settings for children like camps and...
May 9, 2024 • 24 tweets • 11 min read
So much disinformation on AstraZeneca's announcement re: withdrawing their COVID-19 vaccine, so I thought I should go back and review the timelines of what occurred in Canada.

Hang on, because this is going to be a wild ride. Thread, and a long one. /1
theguardian.com/business/artic…
Image AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine was first approved in Canada on Feb. 26, 2021. /2
cbc.ca/news/politics/…
Image
May 8, 2024 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
New post on Rapid Antigen Tests. Will post the entire thread here instead of just a link, given importance.

A master thread with current data: key concepts, which brands are more sensitive, tips to improve sensitivity & important considerations. 1/7 RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS A master thread with current data: key concepts, which brands are more sensitive, tips to improve sensitivity and important considerations. Recent CDC MMRW Report found overall sensitivity of RATs was 47% compared to PCR.
The peak percentage of positive RAT was 59.0% occurred 3 days after onset of symptoms.
Highest on days when fever was reported, lowest on days when no symptoms were reported. 2/7 RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS - OVERALL SENSITIVITY Recent CDC MMRW Report assessed the performance of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) compared to PCR. The study collected data from a household transmission study between Nov 2022 - May 2023. Overall sensitivity of RATs was 47% compared to PCR. The peak percentage of positive RAT was 59.0% and PCR was 83.0%, which occurred 3 days after onset of symptoms. Highest sensitivity for RATs was on days when fever was reported, and the lowest sensitivity was on days when no symptoms were reported.
Apr 25, 2024 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
Avian Flu:
Current situation, context and what you need to know 1/8 Image AVIAN FLU - A BRIEF HISTORY:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is caused by Influenza A H5 and H7 viruses. The current highly infectious strain of Avian Influenza that is spreading is the H5N1.
H5N1 is not new. 2/8 AVIAN FLU - A BRIEF HISTORY: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is caused by Influenza A H5 and H7 viruses. The current highly infectious strain of Avian Influenza that is spreading is the H5N1. H5N1 is not new. It was first detected in chickens in Scotland in 1959; however that strain was very different from the current version of H5N1 which underwent a significant evolution around 1997. Sporadic cases and outbreaks have resulted in hundreds of human cases of the H5 Avian influenza virus, particularly the H5N1 subtype and predominantly from direct contact with infected birds in comme...
Apr 2, 2024 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
In science & esp medicine, risk is a tricky thing to contend with - besides of course being a mathematical one - and involves many considerations in order to have a more fulsome understanding.

In this post @LizMarnik and I attempt to explain these concepts. 1/9 Let’s talk risk What is relative vs absolute risk? What is cumulative risk? Why do these terms matter? And how do these impact our lives? In simple terms, risk is the probability of an event occurring. In statistical terms, the risk of an event occurring is simply defined as its probability.
2/9 WHAT IS RISK? In simple terms, risk is the probability of an event occurring. In statistical terms, the risk of an event occurring is simply defined as its probability. Absolute risk of a disease is your risk of developing the disease over a time period. Relative risk is used to compare the risk in two different groups of people. What does this mean?
Feb 26, 2024 • 10 tweets • 4 min read
A week ago, a new paper was published evaluating the safety of Pfizer, Moderna & AstraZeneca vaccines. Unfortunately, the media’s response with sensational headlines has been both irresponsible & misleading.

Here is a deep dive I did with @LizMarnik & @niniandthebrain

🧵 1/10 COVID VACCINE SAFETY Benefits outweigh risks Study in question:

2/10 sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X24001270
Jan 21, 2024 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
Does Long Covid alter the immune system?

New evidence suggests this may indeed be the case.

Study summary in collaboration with @LizMarnik
1/7 Image This is the study we attempt to summarize:


2/7 nature.com/articles/s4159…
Research is slowly starting to find out what processes may be behind some of the symptoms those with long COVID experience. Image shows screenshot of actual article
Aug 23, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
A few months ago this year I was lucky to be included in the taping of a fairly big TV show as an extra.

The number of Covid-related safety precautions they took throughout the entire taping was incredible:
🧵 First, I needed to get a same day PCR test done.

An entire dedicated testing team that was completely outdoors was set up just for the acting crew.

The results were sent directly to the manager handling extras. You were not allowed inside until they received the results.
Jul 30, 2023 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
Two new Canadian studies demonstrating the efficacy of masks.

These studies show that mandatory masking, esp during periods of high respiratory viruses in the community, can result in reductions in absenteeism, prevent infections and deaths & reduce economic burden. 🧵 1/9 2 new Canadian studies demonstrating efficacy of masks First study by @NishaOttawa , @DrKevinSchwartz , @KevinAnBrown et al.

This study examined whether school-based mandatory masking policies were associated with reduced educational disruptions due to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses 2/9 This study examined whether school-based mandatory masking policies were associated with reduced educational disruptions due to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses
Jun 16, 2023 • 15 tweets • 4 min read
A thing that invariably shocks a lot of people is when I say I don’t trust most science-related books or documentaries.

So, I want to explain why, and situate it within one of my all-time fav things: evidence. 🧵 /1 What constitutes good evidence?

First, all data is not created equally.

When it comes to publications, most people, including academics, tend to read the abstract and perhaps skim quickly through the data. /2
Feb 5, 2023 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
New study comparing myocarditis due to Covid-19 vaccines vs infections.

There was a markedly higher risk of heart failure and death for myocarditis associated with Covid-19 infections compared to Covid-19 vaccination.
1/4 new study comparing myocarditis due to covid-19 vaccines VS Subanalysis of age 12-39 & no comorbidities showed Covid-19 infection related myocarditis was assoc with 5.8x higher risk of heart failure or death vs vaccine related myocarditis.

Confirms Covid-19 related myocarditis far less severe with vaccinations than with infections.
2/4 subanalysis looking specifically at those aged 12-39 (highes
Feb 3, 2023 • 12 tweets • 8 min read
Part 1 of the series on Covid-19 vaccinations and pregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding.
This one focuses specifically on the updated data we have in pregnancy - from the impact of infections to safety and benefits of the vaccine. 🧵1/11 Covid-19 vaccine pregnancy ... Risk of severe outcomes due to Covid-19 infection in pregnancy continue to be high for the pregnant person.
Studies show these risks are highest for those unvaccinated. 2/11 Covid-19 infections in preg...
Dec 28, 2022 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
Many questions about the recent study on mRNA vaccines & IgG4 antibodies over time, so @LizMarnik & I teamed up again to address. Lots of misrepresentation/extrapolation of data.

In this post we discuss what IgG4 antibodies are, what the paper shows & what it means. 🧵 /1 What's the deal with IgG4? A recently published study has been making the rounds and causing some confusion. Here we attempt to explain the findings of this study and why a lot of the information being circulated is incorrect and not supported by the findings of this study. /2 A recently published study has been making the rounds and ca
Nov 4, 2022 • 8 tweets • 4 min read
The amazing @DrSamiraJeimy and I collaborated on a post because we are both tired of seeing the term ‘immunity debt’ being thrown around.

We also get into why we are seeing a record number of pediatric hospitalizations, so stick with us.
🧵(1/8) Immunity debt is not a thin! So what is this ‘immunity debt’ concept?

Claims that lack of exposure to infections weakened children's immune systems, causing them to have severe infections.

There is no evidence that this is real.
(2/8) So what is this ‘immunity debt’ concept? Immunity debt
May 29, 2022 • 9 tweets • 5 min read
Lots of new data on Long Covid especially on vaccines and Omicron, so @LizMarnik and I once again teamed up to update our previous thread with recent studies.

Data current as of May 28th 🧵 1/9 Image First up, Omicron specific data from UK ONS.

Double-vaccinated have ~50% lower risk after BA.1 vs Delta. But, even in triple-vaccinated, long Covid more common after Omicron BA.2 infections (9.3%) versus Omicron BA.1 infections (7.8%). 2/9

ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…The UK ONS released data on the likelihood of reporting long Covid symptoms four weeks after a first coronavirus (Covid-19) infection compatible with the Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 variants, compared with the Delta variant, using data from the Covid-19 Infection Survey. They found: 1- For double-vaccinated people, self-reported long Covid after an infection was nearly 50% lower after Omicron BA.1 infections versus Delta. 2- For triple-vaccinated people, self-reported long Covid was more common after Omicron BA.2 infections (9.3%) versus Omicron BA.1 infections (7.8%). https://www.ons.gov.uk...
Feb 18, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Deep dive on Novavax, which was just approved in Canada as another potential Covid-19 vaccination (1/7) How it’s made (2/7)