Apparently Dymista but that doesn't sound ideal because it contains a steroid too. I wonder if a compounding pharmacy here would make an azelastine-only spray with a prescription? 🤔
Science communicator & writer ✍🏼 🧬 MSc epidemiology grad student @ LSHTM Activist Croissant maker 🥐 📍Vancouver, BC (Views mine)
15,229 followers 555 following 2,937 posts
view profile on Bluesky
Apparently Dymista but that doesn't sound ideal because it contains a steroid too. I wonder if a compounding pharmacy here would make an azelastine-only spray with a prescription? 🤔
A nasal spray reduced the risk of Covid infections in a double blind, placebo controlled randomized trial jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
So hard to choose! Maybe a hoodie for fall?
#BlockedByVinay merch www.bonfire.com/block-party-2/
Vinay Prasad, who is both making it harder to get the Covid vax and has been anti-work from home in the past, is barely coming into office. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
My wall needs more art. Ty!
Same! I'm also blocked by Prasad. Such a loss 🪦
Haha we did, didn't we? If we're ghosts, we have a few minimizers to haunt
Jfc
Reporter: there's a school shooting problem in america Trump: sure but there are thousands of schools where there are no shootings
Totally. It was someone known to me, luckily no pushback from strangers in my area at least
lol
Are you even really alive if you cover up parts of your body? Like, there are people — real people, I’ve seen them — who wear shoes. Living in constant terror that they’ll step on something sharp, I guess. That’s not even a life. You might as well never leave the house.
If I'm living in fear with a mask on, I'm not really living, I've already died. I'll never follow that logic
Got told I was "already dead" today for wearing a mask at son's school drop off
It's good for dermatology too. Can't see a derm for 8 months? Apps like AI derm can help
Farrah and Muhanad have a lot of integrity and upon finding out that a scammer was trying to trick other Gazans by saying he promoted their campaign (when he didn’t) they decided to change the URL so he couldn’t do that- so this is their new link to their fundraiser now.
Important for people to understand the AI utilized in specialty medical care IS NOT the same crap that is dumbing down humanity via falsehood-generating apps like Chat GPT.
💯 Surprised by the demise of U.S. public health? Some of us already saw the signs when they let 5M+ kids get long COVID with zero mitigations
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A randomized trial of for eye care by ophthalmologists with A.I. vs ophthalmologists without A.I. demonstrated much higher accuracy in diagnosis (92 vs 74%) and many other improved outcomes @NatureMedicine www.nature.com/articles/s41...
At my most beautiful
A world-first RCT in cancer patients found that a daily interferon-α nasal spray reduced the risk of Covid infections by ~40% vs. placebo 🎉 interferon-α is a naturally occurring protein with broad antiviral effects www.petermac.org/about-us/new...
He doesn’t look good. But he never looks good. I’m still going with Covid and someone hastily yelling “Get his Granddaughter! We need him next to someone young!”
School shootings have risen sharply in recent years, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics. There have been 44 school shootings this year. www.npr.org/2025/08/29/n...
Likewise. I'm sorry you've had to go through all this. We will keep fighting for better mitigations at the systems level!
I'm sorry you've experienced that. The truth is it's incredibly hard with kids in school and/or daycare and the cost of mitigations can add up. We need to be able to talk about this without judgment. Mass respect for everyone trying the best they can 💜
Ty for listening!
💯 the good thing is once you set up a clean air system at home, it becomes a bit more seamless
Grateful for how far I've come. Most of all, thankful my kids have not tested positive so far - although I know that streak may end soon 😢
I'll write more on this another time, but I'd be lying if I said it's been easy. All my efforts are still easier, though, than enduring another Covid infection. Solidarity with all the parents heading into another unsafe school year 💜
Today is the 2-yr anniversary of my sole Covid infection that led to a bunch of scary symptoms. I'm incredibly thankful (and lucky) not to have been reinfected. But with 2 kids, it's taken re-engineering my whole living space - and yes, often masking in my own home.
Then on Sunday Sept 14 - catch our hybrid Festival day on livestream, or mask up & join in at East Van’s Slocan Park. We have music, dancers, stage magic, freebies, & over 20 groups involved! RSVP: www.tickettailor.com/events/clean.... Access & safety info: cleanairfestival.ca/en/safety-ac...
Excited to be lending a hand with the #CleanAirFestival again this year 🩵🪁 First up: a FREE webinar and Q&A on Sept 7, featuring certified air filter specialist Bryan Louis & sustainability-focussed architect Ian Robertson. Register & get access deets: www.tickettailor.com/events/clean...
New Mexico has issued a public health order that removes federal restrictions to COVID-19 vaccine access so that pharmacies in New Mexico can vaccinate people of all ages and risk profiles. Every state need to do this!
We are not post Covid smh
There's been a concerted effort to force public servants back to the office despite the ongoing pandemic so this is absolutely not surprising
“Post”-COVID.
This is why I call COVID an airborne heart attack virus. After my 2nd COVID infection, I started having heart pain while pushing my toddler in their stroller. Before I turned 40. I’m an ER doctor. I know what “heart pain” sounds like. It was terrifying to experience it so young.
They capped at half capacity! Still a great turnout. The compliance with respirators was very high & I didn't see anyone without a mask
Respirators required, large air filter, open doors to outside for ventilation. All staff did RATs prior. Felt as safe as it could be!
🫠
Some people in my life are very upset I went to a Covid cautious club night because that breaks their narrative of me as a 'hermit living in fear'
I love that! Great that there's a demand. This event is monthly now too. Can't wait to go back in Sept!
This is the way! Can't wait to see more & more events like this rolling out 🎉
Consider considering unequivocally!
It only took 5 years but finally some jurisdictions are putting out clear and accurate information on how to protect yourself from COVID.
Masked performers at the Cobalt last night. So nice to see an *entire room* of people in respirators! Stay different, Vancouver
I feel obliged to mention the absolute best COVID-cautious dentist. I am so grateful he is my dentist and I make sure he knows it every time. - staff wear N95s - HEPA unit in each room - doors on exam rooms - UVC in HVAC - YOU DONT HAVE TO ASK THEM TO MASK! www.redoakdmd.com/about-us/inf...
Damn!! That's amazing 😻
The BOHS in the UK is officially recommending respirators instead of surgical masks in healthcare settings. Let’s hope that the CSA standard Z94.4 for use of respirators in all healthcare settings will become official in Canada to protect healthcare workers and patients. x.com/SafeDavid3/s...
I'm sorry 😞 that request seems entirely reasonable. Those dermatoscope things are portable!
I have tried emailing about the science to no avail. So now I'm trying vibes
Dear universe: I would like to manifest a Covid aware doctor who wears a respirator without me asking ✨ Thank you for your attention to this matter
No notes
I like this perspective 😂😅
*Only one what's (Needs more coffee ☕️ haha)
I love it when people tell me social media is just an echo chamber & Covid caution is overblown. Do you know what's a what's an echo chamber? Every day offline life. People going about their day, having brunch, in denial of our current crises
If you’re dealing with Long Covid - there’s a chance you’re also dealing with MCAS and/or POTS/Dysautonomia. They’re two of the most common comorbids - and can have a devastating impact on quality of life. New allergies? Alcohol intolerance? Dizziness? Fatigue? Fainting? A mega 🧵 of resources
Haha love it. Well then you'll just have to revisit soon!
Vax rates are too low, especially for measles, across whole province. We Vancouver/Victoria area residents act all smug, but, honestly, once measles hits here, we are also screwed. www.bccdc.ca/resource-gal...
Next one! These seem to be a regular thing
The event is also half capacity and everyone working will be doing rapid antigen tests day before & day of 🥹
Excited for this community care club night. Masks mandatory, free KN95s at the door & HEPA filters "Taking creative risks not health risks" Let's go, Vancouver!
Yes, there are many crises going on--this is the firehose of autocracy at work. But I am begging anyone who cares about health to take a breath and make a plan. 10/
You or someone you love will feel the pain soon enough. Whether it's your kid catching measles in school, you ending up in the hospital from COVID, having to make household choices between the skyrocketing ACA premiums & other necessities. All of this is coming to your town, your city. 16/
Processed & red meats have been consistently linked to cancer and CVD risk, the same level of risks have generally not been found with poultry & fish
This study, which was funded by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, lumps red and/or processed meats in with poultry and fish. This can mask a big difference in risk nationalpost.com/news/canada/...
An immensely tragic stat 💔
"Guns killed more children than any other cause- more than cancer, more than car crashes- for 3 years in a row."- Washington Post 434 school shootings since the Columbine massacre, and our country still refuses to do what's needed to keep our children safe. Yet we keep sending our kids to school
"If only there were a way to prevent this" every time there's a shooting in the U.S. "If only there were a way to prevent this" every time there's catastrophic fires from climate change "If only there were a way to prevent this," every time there's another Covid wave that kills & disables people
Five years later There is ZERO back-to-school guidance From Canada's Hospital for Sick Children On airborne transmission On masks & respirators On the high risk of kids contracting Covid & Long Covid And what that can mean for kids long-term health 😠😠😠
“Prasad overruled dozens of career scientists to limit Covid vaccine approvals three times in the past few months”
Believe me when I say a country that doesn't have the political will to protect kids from gun violence is also lying to you about the pandemic being over
It's official: Updated COVID vaccines have been approved by the FDA, but with restrictions. Moderna: 6 months and up if high risk Pfizer: 5 years and up if high risk Novavax: 12 years and up if high risk Anyone 65 years and up is eligible for updated COVID vaccines regardless of risk status.
💯
This is why I post a lot about ML tools in healthcare. There is some hope of preventing the worst sepsis outcomes & reducing patient gaslighting with statistical algorithms. Sorry about the headline, but don't worry, this isn't genAI www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Heartbreaking story of two women in 🍁 who died this year of postpartum sepsis. Can we please believe women & start treatment asap for red flag symptoms? Invasive Group A Strep has risen 40% from 2019-2023 www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti...
Maybe the particulate matter will poison the SARS-CoV2 (being toxically optimistic🤞🏼)
Nanjing and Guangzhou researchers tested a single-dose engineered SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain in mice. Given intranasally, it blocked infection, prevented transmission, and triggered long-lasting immunity stronger than vaccines. www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Ty!
Weeks like this worry me for our kids because the AQI hovers in the "fine enough" category. Outdoor activity & camps will proceed as normal & masks won't be seen as needed. But the longterm consequences of 20 years of Augusts like this can't be good
So sad given that his own child has long covid :-(
For the week ending Aug. 17, COVID was the reason 4.04% of kids in California up to age 11 were in the ER 😢- up from ~1% in late June
"Why COVID keeps roaring back every summer, even as pandemic fades from public view" Mystery I tell ya www.latimes.com/california/s...
Deforestation has killed half a million people in past 20 years, study finds
lol
It's important to note that machine learning has been around for decades and is very useful for many tasks. Conflating Generative AI with those only proves that GenAI companies are realizing that their creation doesn't have enough to offer on its own.
Moderna's latest COVID-19 vaccine is both approved and 'made in Canada' https://globalnews.ca/news/11349082/new-covid-19-vaccine-made-in-canada/ 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
In EPA's Air Cleaning Allies activity book, Merv, Aerie, and DJ remind me of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey of K-Pop Demon Hunters. Particles in the air are the demons.
Where can we get this procedure lol
Telomere length is linked to cancers. I wonder if the uptick in cancers we are seeing in younger people is in some part related to increased global temps
Exposure to heatwaves over a 2-yr window was linked to faster biological aging of ~8-11 days in a study of ~25,000 adults in Taiwan. The authors say one possible mechanism is that heat stress may shorten telomeres 🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Really sucks that the term "AI" gets used for both genAI hyped by tech bros and rigorous ML tools made by researchers & used in applied epi, healthcare, weather modelling etc. that can actually save lives
If you’re outraged over Trump but not Gaza, I can’t trust your advocacy credentials and intentions.
2/ Even so-called “mild” infections leave measurable brain damage: shrinkage, inflammation, disrupted connectivity. This isn’t fringe science—it’s published in the very journals we assign to students. And still… silence.
Cute dad at the daycare pickup in a headstrap N95, but I realized it was for wildfire smoke & not SARS-CoV2. Partial points, I guess 😅