🧵⬇️ #Omicron is spreading much faster than Delta. This is either because;
A) it spreads more easily from person to person
or
B) it’s better than Delta at infecting people who’ve recovered from COVID or been vaccinated (immune evasion)
or
C) (most likely) a combination of a & b
#Omicron is spreading rapidly within & between countries. So far, 2,629 cases have been confirmed (42 in Ireland) through genome sequencing, across Europe.
This is likely a significant underestimate with community transmission now reported in many countries, including Ireland.
Oct 28, 2021 • 13 tweets • 7 min read
What do we know about pregnancy, #COVID19 and vaccination? A thread.
@HSEImm@RCPI_news@RCPI_ObsGyn
(1/13)
Most pregnant women who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID – have mild or no symptoms and don’t experience serious complications.
However, there is increasing evidence that #COVID19 can affect your pregnancy.
(2/13)
Dec 14, 2020 • 13 tweets • 5 min read
2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone.
But this has also been a year of very significant medical and scientific achievement.
And now, at least two #COVID19 vaccines are on the horizon.
(a thread)
Many are now asking, how has it all happened so quickly?
...to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective, and to make enough of it for everyone who needs it.
There are several reasons why this timeline has been really cut down for #COVID19 vaccine candidates;
Dec 4, 2020 • 9 tweets • 5 min read
News on #vaccines against #COVID19 is very encouraging. Its timely to remember the fantastic impact that other vaccines have had over the last 200 yrs in Ireland - apart from clean water, vaccines have saved more lives than any other public health intervention @HSEImm@RCPI_news
In 1863 vaccination against smallpox was made compulsory for all children born in Ireland. Deaths fell from 7,550 for the decade to 1880 to the last reported death here in 1907. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1979 – this one vaccine saved 100s of millions of lives globally.
Sep 20, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
There has very understandably been a particular focus on Dublin over the past few days.
However, most other counties are also seeing increasing numbers of cases of #COVID19. Three in particular are already high and continuing to rise fast; 1/n
Louth
14 day incidence 53/100,000 last Sunday; 102/100,000 this evening
131 cases in last fortnight
Donegal
26/100,000 last Sunday; 84/100,000 this evening
133 cases in last fortnight
Waterford
55/100,000 last Sunday; 89/100,000 this evening
103 cases in last fortnight
Aug 19, 2020 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
The number of #COVID19 cases that we have now in Ireland is substantially more than we were seeing even just a few weeks ago.
On average over the past 5 days we have reported 96 new cases. Our 14 day incidence now stands at over 23 per 100,000. 1/12
While we are still in a relatively good position compared to many countries, our upward growth rate is now the 3rd highest among EU member states. 2/12
Mar 13, 2020 • 10 tweets • 7 min read
ADVICE FOR PARENTS: From the data so far children are the group least affected by #COVID19. We can say that there is a very good chance your child will not be severely affected even if exposed.
#COVID19#COVID2019IRELAND#coronavirusireland
However, children may play a significant role in spreading this virus. Parents should try and avoid arranging play dates for groups of young children at this early stage of the outbreak.
