Tara C. Smith
@aetiology.bsky.social
Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.
One of my former pups (2006-2022) was a Boston/shih tzu mix.
November 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
One of my former pups (2006-2022) was a Boston/shih tzu mix.
But why is my dog a cat.
November 9, 2025 at 1:57 AM
But why is my dog a cat.
Flu shot acquired today! The CDC's flu tracker has not been updated since the shutdown (last update Sept 30) so it's no easy task to find what's happening nationally at the moment. If you haven't yet gotten your vaccine, now is a good time to do so, prior to any holiday gatherings and travel.
November 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Flu shot acquired today! The CDC's flu tracker has not been updated since the shutdown (last update Sept 30) so it's no easy task to find what's happening nationally at the moment. If you haven't yet gotten your vaccine, now is a good time to do so, prior to any holiday gatherings and travel.
This a million times. Denial never really changes, just shifts to update its language with new discoveries and new terminology. We see the same with evolution and HIV denial. Plus, people were sick of antivaxxers even in the late 1800s.
November 4, 2025 at 11:48 AM
This a million times. Denial never really changes, just shifts to update its language with new discoveries and new terminology. We see the same with evolution and HIV denial. Plus, people were sick of antivaxxers even in the late 1800s.
And people were fed up with them back then too.
November 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
And people were fed up with them back then too.
Unsurprising that Riley Gaines would jump on the MAHA train despite having a degree in "health sciences." Also unsurprising that she's completely wrong about the HebB vaccine. Infants can (and do) acquire the virus from other sources, which is why we vaccinate to protect them if exposed.
October 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Unsurprising that Riley Gaines would jump on the MAHA train despite having a degree in "health sciences." Also unsurprising that she's completely wrong about the HebB vaccine. Infants can (and do) acquire the virus from other sources, which is why we vaccinate to protect them if exposed.
Farber is one I called out in my first (2007) review of HIV denial as well as the recent one. She used to comment at my blog and has always been awful. She blocked me on Twitter but of course moved into COVID denial as well. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
![Celia Farber is a journalist who has spent much of her career covering HIV. Farber is the author of a recent Harper's article repeating Duesberg's claims that HIV does not cause AIDS [15], and has recently authored a book on “the shadowy story of AIDS science” [16].
There are serious inconsistencies within the broad HIV denial movement, and the individuals mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg. HIV denial groups diverge even on the most basic tenet: does HIV exist at all? Nevertheless, disagreements within the movement are overlooked for the sake of presenting a unified front.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wojva3mvygznfwpmkdyujvul/bafkreiexn5rbun225nki3fj4z7wwbr2hhbvzdr3pedcqg3kcurbwfnjvwi@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Farber is one I called out in my first (2007) review of HIV denial as well as the recent one. She used to comment at my blog and has always been awful. She blocked me on Twitter but of course moved into COVID denial as well. journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
Another shitshow day in 2025 USA, but at least local color is poppin'.
October 22, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Another shitshow day in 2025 USA, but at least local color is poppin'.
No honey, we criticize you for free because you lie.
October 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
No honey, we criticize you for free because you lie.
Good thread and if you're wondering where some of this misinformation is coming from-- guess who else is cashing in on the Tylenol/ vaccines press conference? All the grifters from the early 2000s are returning like the worst pop culture trends.
September 28, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Good thread and if you're wondering where some of this misinformation is coming from-- guess who else is cashing in on the Tylenol/ vaccines press conference? All the grifters from the early 2000s are returning like the worst pop culture trends.
Some of all of that. Most evenings on the treadmill cause dark but weekend long runs with layers as necessary. Coldest day included insulated hydration bladder & tube. More hiking on trails since they tend to be snowy/icy.
September 27, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Some of all of that. Most evenings on the treadmill cause dark but weekend long runs with layers as necessary. Coldest day included insulated hydration bladder & tube. More hiking on trails since they tend to be snowy/icy.
Imagine trying to come into my replies and using AAPS as a source.
September 27, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Imagine trying to come into my replies and using AAPS as a source.
Oh COME ON just put us out of our misery.
September 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Oh COME ON just put us out of our misery.
Antivaxxers are big mad about the pending autism announcement.
September 22, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Antivaxxers are big mad about the pending autism announcement.
Monday and the first day of fall. Let's do this shit.
September 22, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Monday and the first day of fall. Let's do this shit.
Still gonna bitch about earlier sunset times even under fascism.
Also drought is bringing out fall colors super early.
Also drought is bringing out fall colors super early.
September 19, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Still gonna bitch about earlier sunset times even under fascism.
Also drought is bringing out fall colors super early.
Also drought is bringing out fall colors super early.
Today's dose of gremlin.
September 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Today's dose of gremlin.
This is a text I own but it's dated and very technical. For the course we used journal articles.
September 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
This is a text I own but it's dated and very technical. For the course we used journal articles.
Headed east this week to take in another lovely NE Ohio venue, Mill Creek Park in Youngstown. Family hiked a 25K event and the weather was finally cool after a too-hot summer. Trail was about 90% by lakes/creeks with sounds of waterfalls while we walked. Adore this park.
September 8, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Headed east this week to take in another lovely NE Ohio venue, Mill Creek Park in Youngstown. Family hiked a 25K event and the weather was finally cool after a too-hot summer. Trail was about 90% by lakes/creeks with sounds of waterfalls while we walked. Adore this park.
This week has been an absolute shitshow. Give your loved ones in medicine, public health, science in general some grace this week.
Luckily I have an empty secret trail that gives me this view (& peep the sitting rock), so took extra time there to decompress. Onward to the next awful event, y'all.
Luckily I have an empty secret trail that gives me this view (& peep the sitting rock), so took extra time there to decompress. Onward to the next awful event, y'all.
September 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This week has been an absolute shitshow. Give your loved ones in medicine, public health, science in general some grace this week.
Luckily I have an empty secret trail that gives me this view (& peep the sitting rock), so took extra time there to decompress. Onward to the next awful event, y'all.
Luckily I have an empty secret trail that gives me this view (& peep the sitting rock), so took extra time there to decompress. Onward to the next awful event, y'all.
Still won't this morning FYI. I'm in NE Ohio so guess they're just not stocking here yet. I tried a few areas within about 20 mins of me.
August 29, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Still won't this morning FYI. I'm in NE Ohio so guess they're just not stocking here yet. I tried a few areas within about 20 mins of me.
Now I get this message when it goes to geographic location. Tried it twice. I'll check back in the morning.
August 29, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Now I get this message when it goes to geographic location. Tried it twice. I'll check back in the morning.
Compare that to what Kennedy posted on Facebook, saying anyone who wanted one could get the vaccine ("after consulting with their doctor"). This seems way more restrictive in the NYT article and it hasn't even gone through ACIP yet.
August 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Compare that to what Kennedy posted on Facebook, saying anyone who wanted one could get the vaccine ("after consulting with their doctor"). This seems way more restrictive in the NYT article and it hasn't even gone through ACIP yet.
Antivaxxers are going all in to outright deny germ theory, falling in line with Kennedy. This post suggests that hand, foot, & mouth disease is actually "vaccine injury" rather than a viral infection.
August 27, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Antivaxxers are going all in to outright deny germ theory, falling in line with Kennedy. This post suggests that hand, foot, & mouth disease is actually "vaccine injury" rather than a viral infection.
This is referring to Jillian Michaels and her rightward turn in today's NYT, but damn if the story isn't the same as Jenny McCarthy. Hear a science conspiracy theory (autism/ vaccines, Wuhan "lab leak"), Google to affirm your priors, and bang, newly minted conspiracy theorist.
August 26, 2025 at 3:28 AM
This is referring to Jillian Michaels and her rightward turn in today's NYT, but damn if the story isn't the same as Jenny McCarthy. Hear a science conspiracy theory (autism/ vaccines, Wuhan "lab leak"), Google to affirm your priors, and bang, newly minted conspiracy theorist.