I wrote a piece on the weekend with @ericandrewgee on who is being hospitalized in the Omicron wave & since then my mentions/inbox have been filled with screenshots of Ontario's website showing half of those in the ICU are vaccinated. So about that...
Last week, 60% of ICU beds in Ont were occupied by unvaxxed patients. That number went down over the weekend to about half. This shows how unvaxxed continue to face big risks in the Omicron wave (small % of population that skews younger making up 1/2 of ICU occupancy, not good)
Jul 9, 2020 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
Is #COVID19 airborne? A contentious debate that flared up this week after 239 scientists (inc. 10 Cdns) signed a letter asking health bodies to recognize the potential. I wrote about the debate here and what you need to know, with a few points to follow: theglobeandmail.com/canada/article…
Many think "airborne" means the virus travels through the air, i.e. from a cough or sneeze. In the medical world, this form of spread is called droplet transmission. "Airborne" means viral particles are turned into very tiny aerosols that can stay suspended in air for hours.
Sep 24, 2019 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
I didn’t cover this hearing. But from past experience, it’s a tricky area: anti-vaccination advocates say things that are not true. As a reporter, you strive to present all sides of an issue. But when it comes to vaccines, this leads to false balance. So here’s what I try to do:
Avoid repeating false claims when possible. When you must refer to a person’s belief or claim for context, focus on details that are fact-based. And try to immediately follow up with a sentence explaining why the phrase isn’t true...
Feb 27, 2019 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
A group that posted anti-vaccine billboards around Toronto said they want the public to get educated about vaccines. Here are a few facts for those interested in vaccine facts:
In 1967, there were 10-15 million cases of smallpox every year. In the 20th century, it killed around 300 million people. 30% of those who got it died. Following a massive global vaccination campaign, smallpox was officially eradicated in 1979.
Feb 23, 2019 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Two more measles cases confirmed in BC, says @VCHhealthcare. In one case, officials don’t know how the person caught it, meaning the virus may have been transmitted at a public place. So others may also have been exposed. A list of places where exposure may have occurred:
If you’ve been exposed to measles, there’s nothing to do except watch and wait for symptoms. If they develop, call before showing up to see your health provider so precautions can be take to avoid further transmission.
