There are very few people on this app whose tweets I 100% agree with. And that’s okay!

This is especially true when it comes to opinions about Covid.

Just wanna normalize that it’s ok to disagree. In fact, if you agree with someone 100% you might be in ideology-first territory. But to be clear: “it’s ok to disagree” does NOT mean “it’s ok to spread misinformation.”

And also maybe we would disagree less if people spewed fewer hot takes but at this point I’m a broken record on that point so I digress…

I was very lucky to get to chat with virologist @angie_rasmussen about rapid antigen tests.

This short video (also on IG here: instagram.com/tv/CXmHYnkLVQ2…) shares 2 key things we want you to know before using them over the holidays ⤵️
[& 🧵with more info] 1⃣ Use the rapid antigen test RIGHT before you see others. The result is relevant for hours, not days.

2⃣ Rapid antigen tests are great, but not as good as PCR at detecting infections from the last 2-3 days. Factor in what you’ve done the last 3 days when interpreting -ve result

Omicron may be sneakier at getting around some of the initial layers of our immune response that protect against infection/transmission.

But some other layers of our immunity are really good at evolving too -- & fighting back.

Let's tighten up our risk budget til we learn more.

https://twitter.com/KatherineJWu/status/1470866301954539523?s=20

FLU SHOT✅ (finally!)

Really disappointed by how difficult it was to find an accommodating appt. Especially after being asked to talk about my anxiety so much this year.

But better late than never. Did it for my niece, inspired by @jillpromoli’s advocacy 💗 #ForJudeForEveryone I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to @horsepharmer who, in the true compassionate form of so many of our community pharmacists, went out of his way to help me find a local pharmacy that would do an at-home vaccination.

I didn’t know that was even a possibility!!

Looking for answers to questions about #COVID vaccines? Or a short video you can send to a friend or family member who's on the fence?

🧵 META-THREAD | Featuring the top videos & resources I've made summarizing expert consensus on #vaccine FAQs.

Bookmark & RT :) #VaccinesWork Q1: How do we know the COVID vaccines are safe in the long-term?

A1: The vaccine product doesn't last more than a few days/weeks in your body, only immunity does. Like with other vax, rare but serious effects happen in the short-term, within 2-3 months 👇🏼

https://twitter.com/heysciencesam/status/1420775658792304647?s=20

I asked people on Instagram what’s holding them back from getting vaccinated.

One of the top answers: “I don’t need to since I had COVID already.”

Here’s why you should still get vaccinated even if you’ve recovered from COVID 👇🏼 #VaccinesWork #DeltaVariant Also yes, I’m tweeting about a question asked on Instagram I replied to with a tik tok 😅

There is a reason why I say "needle and medical anxiety" instead of "needle phobia."

"Needle phobia" makes people think it's just about fear of pain from a needle.

But for many adults with this, it's about a whole lot more than pain & reducing it to that is, frankly, ableist. If you're doing a story on needle phobia and/or actually want to help adults with needle & medical anxiety get vaccinated, I urge you to dig deeper than taglines related to pain.

I know there are a lot of people who recently got the AstraZeneca vaccine who feel ... snubbed ... after last week's communications.

This thread is for you. I hope it re-affirms your smart decision to get protected from COVID asap & empowers you to know the signs of VITT. Vaccines prevent disease. So any potential risk from a vaccine must ALWAYS be discussed in the context of risks from the disease it prevents.

Risks from an infectious disease like COVID vary w/ time, age, location, & personal risk profile.

That's why it changes & is confusing.

If you got the AstraZeneca vaccine, you did NOT make a bad decision.

https://twitter.com/bogochisaac/status/1390626691505065984

Please read the article. It talks about how going forward, supply of mRNA vaccine is increasing so much in Canada that it will be easier to opt for them if you’re more comfortable with the lower risk profile.

Wow this made me feel so seen.

Despite the fact that I’ve been talking about vaccines non-stop all year, I have a real fear of the needle (not the vaccine!) itself.

Grateful for my therapist (who practises from a disability justice framework 🙏🏼)
time.com/6046759/needle… I’m gonna try to document my experience getting vaccinated in hopes of helping others. Also working on a guide. Buuuut also prioritizing my mental health on this one 😬😬

Question for those vaccinating in Ontario (especially Toronto) or disabled folks:

What’s the most seamless way for those of us with disabilities and/or needle phobia to ask for the accommodations we need when booking our appointments or arriving at the vax site? I saw this form from Surrey Place (ddprimarycare.surreyplace.ca/wp-content/upl…) and while it says it’s specific for those with developmental disabilities, I’d find it helpful to fill out something similar since it’s stressful for me to communicate my needs in the moment.

Let's take a look at the updated NACI recommendations for the AstraZeneca vaccine...

Thread based on Appendix E, analyzing benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine (preventing ICU admissions & deaths from COVID) vs risks of waiting for a later mRNA vaccine: canada.ca/content/dam/ph… QUICK SUMMARY: if you're in AB or ON, or anywhere with high COVD cases, the protections the AstraZeneca vaccine offer outweigh the rare but real risks -- at any age.

Also seems true for 30+ in areas with medium COVID levels.

Note current supply & provincial eligibility criteria

I asked people on Instagram what may be making them or their loved ones feel unsure about booking an appointment for an #AstraZeneca vaccine.

🧵 Thread with my 15-second answers to the 9 most frequent questions they asked.

#VaccinesWork #Canada #Ontario Q: How effective is [the AstraZeneca vaccine] compared to other vaccines?

A: When it comes to just one dose, which is all most people in Canada are gonna have for the next few months, the mRNA vaccines have similar effectiveness to the AstraZeneca.

NACI: canada.ca/en/public-heal…

I'm reflecting a lot on Aristotle's 3 appeals for effective rhetoric.

In part b/c of the news about the very rare & atypical clots after AstraZeneca & now Janssen J&J vaccination... but also just with how we talk about the science of the pandemic in general.

#SciComm 🧵 | 1/13 I know many argue rhetoric - or persuasive communication - has no place in science, and I agree my goal is never to persuade but to inform.

But we always have to make our arguments "appealing", even those based on facts.

To catch attention, & make em relatable/memorable.

2/13

A friendly reminder to always approach the topic of vaccinations with empathy. Hesitancy is complex & has many layers.

ie. this week, I've been receiving a lot of msgs from people scheduled for 1st or 2nd AstraZeneca vax. They want a vaccine but are SO anxious from the news 😔 Anxiety is also high in those who recently received their 1st dose & are now seeing headlines that have them on edge.

I am glad the potential rare side effect of clots has been so transparently shared by experts & media.

But all the more reason to be kind in our scicomm 💕

🧵

People in their 20s are now disproportionately represented in new COVID-19 cases in Ontario.

Instead of shaming & blaming, I asked them what challenges they’re currently facing with respect to the pandemic.

After 100s of replies, some key themes emerged. Here they are: Many people in their 20s mentioned peer and social pressure, plus general difficulty navigating behaviours of those around them as a major challenge during the pandemic.

A quick visual guide to risk assessment, based off some of the fantastic research summaries created by @mugecevik @firefoxx66 and @ErinBromage

1/13 Your exposure risk is some function of viral dose & time.

The tricky thing is we don’t know how many virus particles it takes to cause an infection, and this will likely vary from person to person.

The good news is we know some ways to reduce our relative risks

2/13

PSA TO MEDIA:

“AEROSOLS” is jargon - IT IS YOUR JOB TO CLEARLY STATE HOW THEY DIFFER FROM DROPLETS WHEN SHARING RESULTS FROM THE NEJM PAPER. In a nutshell: COVID-19 patients likely cough/sneeze DROPLETS, which are larger than aerosols and all fall to the floor within 1-2m, give or take.

AEROSOLS are smaller so can last in air for longer, but are very likely only produced in hospitals after certain medical procedures

YES, hand sanitizer DOES kill many viruses, not just bacteria. Here's how.

#FactsNotFear #COVID19 To clarify the line about water (I struggled to multi-task😅): a mixture of water & alcohol is better than 100% alcohol for many reasons - the water keeps hands from drying out too much, helps with penetration, and even slows down evaporation of the alcohol so it has time to work