Cat in the Hat
@catinthehat.bsky.social
Mum • Lover of nature and clean, fresh air • Passionate about science • “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.”
Eligibility for an NHS Covid booster has been HUGELY restricted this Autumn.
Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?
Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?
October 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Eligibility for an NHS Covid booster has been HUGELY restricted this Autumn.
Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?
Studies show that both acute & long-term impacts of Covid are substantially WORSE than flu on almost every measure.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
So why are the government offering so much LESS protection for Covid?
[27 Jun 2025] @DrTedros at WHO media briefing:
“We cannot talk about COVID-19 in the past tense. Although the crisis has passed, the virus remains.
It continues to evolve, it continues to kill, and millions of people continue to live with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID.”
“We cannot talk about COVID-19 in the past tense. Although the crisis has passed, the virus remains.
It continues to evolve, it continues to kill, and millions of people continue to live with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID.”
June 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
[27 Jun 2025] @DrTedros at WHO media briefing:
“We cannot talk about COVID-19 in the past tense. Although the crisis has passed, the virus remains.
It continues to evolve, it continues to kill, and millions of people continue to live with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID.”
“We cannot talk about COVID-19 in the past tense. Although the crisis has passed, the virus remains.
It continues to evolve, it continues to kill, and millions of people continue to live with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID.”
This is your regular reminder that COVID is *not* seasonal.
Many of the biggest waves in previous years have fallen in the summer…
…and, as we head into summer once more, there are definite signs of an uptick.
Will this become another full-blown wave? Only time will tell…
Many of the biggest waves in previous years have fallen in the summer…
…and, as we head into summer once more, there are definite signs of an uptick.
Will this become another full-blown wave? Only time will tell…
June 24, 2025 at 10:35 AM
This is your regular reminder that COVID is *not* seasonal.
Many of the biggest waves in previous years have fallen in the summer…
…and, as we head into summer once more, there are definite signs of an uptick.
Will this become another full-blown wave? Only time will tell…
Many of the biggest waves in previous years have fallen in the summer…
…and, as we head into summer once more, there are definite signs of an uptick.
Will this become another full-blown wave? Only time will tell…
Hi @mrjamesob.bsky.social
I’d like to know how Bridget Phillipson thinks that teaching children the value of grit is going to help them overcome the neurological damage caused by multiple COVID infections.
The science is clear that this is a major contributor to the mental health crisis in kids.
I’d like to know how Bridget Phillipson thinks that teaching children the value of grit is going to help them overcome the neurological damage caused by multiple COVID infections.
The science is clear that this is a major contributor to the mental health crisis in kids.
May 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Hi @mrjamesob.bsky.social
I’d like to know how Bridget Phillipson thinks that teaching children the value of grit is going to help them overcome the neurological damage caused by multiple COVID infections.
The science is clear that this is a major contributor to the mental health crisis in kids.
I’d like to know how Bridget Phillipson thinks that teaching children the value of grit is going to help them overcome the neurological damage caused by multiple COVID infections.
The science is clear that this is a major contributor to the mental health crisis in kids.
Try changing the search filter to search under: ‘Channel’. When I do that, it pops up straight away.
February 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Try changing the search filter to search under: ‘Channel’. When I do that, it pops up straight away.
Again, if you’d read the chart properly, you would see that the data source is clearly labelled.
As is the fact that the charts were produced by me.
No mystery here.
As is the fact that the charts were produced by me.
No mystery here.
February 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Again, if you’d read the chart properly, you would see that the data source is clearly labelled.
As is the fact that the charts were produced by me.
No mystery here.
As is the fact that the charts were produced by me.
No mystery here.
This is the data for 3-17 year olds from the ONS survey (released in April 2024).
Feel free to check the raw data for yourself at the link below (see tab 1):
www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/pe...
Feel free to check the raw data for yourself at the link below (see tab 1):
www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/pe...
February 26, 2025 at 12:41 PM
This is the data for 3-17 year olds from the ONS survey (released in April 2024).
Feel free to check the raw data for yourself at the link below (see tab 1):
www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/pe...
Feel free to check the raw data for yourself at the link below (see tab 1):
www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/pe...
Please can you elaborate on why you think this would not be the norm?
It is in line with data from other countries - eg. the Canada Long Covid study below which showed that around 80% of those currently suffering from LC had had symptoms for more than 6 months:
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75...
It is in line with data from other countries - eg. the Canada Long Covid study below which showed that around 80% of those currently suffering from LC had had symptoms for more than 6 months:
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75...
February 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Please can you elaborate on why you think this would not be the norm?
It is in line with data from other countries - eg. the Canada Long Covid study below which showed that around 80% of those currently suffering from LC had had symptoms for more than 6 months:
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75...
It is in line with data from other countries - eg. the Canada Long Covid study below which showed that around 80% of those currently suffering from LC had had symptoms for more than 6 months:
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75...
Frustratingly this data is a year old now & we don’t have more recent data for prevalence of Long Covid in kids because ONS has axed the Covid/Long Covid survey.
If prevalence has continued to rise at the same rate as before, there could be as many as 240K children in the UK with Long Covid by now.
If prevalence has continued to rise at the same rate as before, there could be as many as 240K children in the UK with Long Covid by now.
February 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Frustratingly this data is a year old now & we don’t have more recent data for prevalence of Long Covid in kids because ONS has axed the Covid/Long Covid survey.
If prevalence has continued to rise at the same rate as before, there could be as many as 240K children in the UK with Long Covid by now.
If prevalence has continued to rise at the same rate as before, there could be as many as 240K children in the UK with Long Covid by now.
Hi @mrjamesob.bsky.social,
Thanks for discussing Long Covid in children on your show today.
As of March 2024, ONS reported that over 111K kids had Long Covid.
And that’s just 🏴 & 🏴. If you extrapolate across the UK, it’s over 120K.
The number nearly DOUBLED in a year between Mar 2023 & Mar 2024.
Thanks for discussing Long Covid in children on your show today.
As of March 2024, ONS reported that over 111K kids had Long Covid.
And that’s just 🏴 & 🏴. If you extrapolate across the UK, it’s over 120K.
The number nearly DOUBLED in a year between Mar 2023 & Mar 2024.
February 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Hi @mrjamesob.bsky.social,
Thanks for discussing Long Covid in children on your show today.
As of March 2024, ONS reported that over 111K kids had Long Covid.
And that’s just 🏴 & 🏴. If you extrapolate across the UK, it’s over 120K.
The number nearly DOUBLED in a year between Mar 2023 & Mar 2024.
Thanks for discussing Long Covid in children on your show today.
As of March 2024, ONS reported that over 111K kids had Long Covid.
And that’s just 🏴 & 🏴. If you extrapolate across the UK, it’s over 120K.
The number nearly DOUBLED in a year between Mar 2023 & Mar 2024.
💙 Please can you do one small thing for me this Sunday.
Please spare a minute to sign this ⬇️ petition.
And then please try to find at least one more person to sign it - maybe a partner or friend?
Together, we can get it to at least 10K signatures!
✍🏻 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Please spare a minute to sign this ⬇️ petition.
And then please try to find at least one more person to sign it - maybe a partner or friend?
Together, we can get it to at least 10K signatures!
✍🏻 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
February 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
💙 Please can you do one small thing for me this Sunday.
Please spare a minute to sign this ⬇️ petition.
And then please try to find at least one more person to sign it - maybe a partner or friend?
Together, we can get it to at least 10K signatures!
✍🏻 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Please spare a minute to sign this ⬇️ petition.
And then please try to find at least one more person to sign it - maybe a partner or friend?
Together, we can get it to at least 10K signatures!
✍🏻 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
BIRD FLU (H5N1) OUTBREAK ON TWO FARMS IN ENGLAND
▪️1.6 million hens culled on a large poultry farm in Shopshire (20 Jan)
▪️15,000 turkeys culled on a farm in North Yorkshire (22 Jan)
▪️A 3km protection zone & 10km surveillance zone have been declared around both farms.
▪️1.6 million hens culled on a large poultry farm in Shopshire (20 Jan)
▪️15,000 turkeys culled on a farm in North Yorkshire (22 Jan)
▪️A 3km protection zone & 10km surveillance zone have been declared around both farms.
January 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
BIRD FLU (H5N1) OUTBREAK ON TWO FARMS IN ENGLAND
▪️1.6 million hens culled on a large poultry farm in Shopshire (20 Jan)
▪️15,000 turkeys culled on a farm in North Yorkshire (22 Jan)
▪️A 3km protection zone & 10km surveillance zone have been declared around both farms.
▪️1.6 million hens culled on a large poultry farm in Shopshire (20 Jan)
▪️15,000 turkeys culled on a farm in North Yorkshire (22 Jan)
▪️A 3km protection zone & 10km surveillance zone have been declared around both farms.
Wishing you all a healthy & happy New Year! 🥳
Let’s hope 2025 is the year that the government recognises the need for a more sustainable & preventative approach to managing the health of our nation.
Here’s my New Year’s Wishlist ⬇️
What’s on your Wishlist?
Let’s hope 2025 is the year that the government recognises the need for a more sustainable & preventative approach to managing the health of our nation.
Here’s my New Year’s Wishlist ⬇️
What’s on your Wishlist?
January 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Wishing you all a healthy & happy New Year! 🥳
Let’s hope 2025 is the year that the government recognises the need for a more sustainable & preventative approach to managing the health of our nation.
Here’s my New Year’s Wishlist ⬇️
What’s on your Wishlist?
Let’s hope 2025 is the year that the government recognises the need for a more sustainable & preventative approach to managing the health of our nation.
Here’s my New Year’s Wishlist ⬇️
What’s on your Wishlist?
Now would also be a good time to implement AIRBORNE infection control measures in hospitals, as recommended by experts at the Covid Inquiry.
Hospitals are inundated with the ‘tidal wave’ of airborne viruses.
Please mandate FFP3 masks & improved ventilation/air filtration NOW!
Hospitals are inundated with the ‘tidal wave’ of airborne viruses.
Please mandate FFP3 masks & improved ventilation/air filtration NOW!
December 31, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Now would also be a good time to implement AIRBORNE infection control measures in hospitals, as recommended by experts at the Covid Inquiry.
Hospitals are inundated with the ‘tidal wave’ of airborne viruses.
Please mandate FFP3 masks & improved ventilation/air filtration NOW!
Hospitals are inundated with the ‘tidal wave’ of airborne viruses.
Please mandate FFP3 masks & improved ventilation/air filtration NOW!
🔎 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
After weeks of having every single social media post being bombarded with people telling them how inadequate their advice was for not including any steps to prevent transmission of AIRBORNE viruses…
…guess what @UKHSA have FINALLY added to their advice?
After weeks of having every single social media post being bombarded with people telling them how inadequate their advice was for not including any steps to prevent transmission of AIRBORNE viruses…
…guess what @UKHSA have FINALLY added to their advice?
December 31, 2024 at 8:08 PM
🔎 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
After weeks of having every single social media post being bombarded with people telling them how inadequate their advice was for not including any steps to prevent transmission of AIRBORNE viruses…
…guess what @UKHSA have FINALLY added to their advice?
After weeks of having every single social media post being bombarded with people telling them how inadequate their advice was for not including any steps to prevent transmission of AIRBORNE viruses…
…guess what @UKHSA have FINALLY added to their advice?
The implications of a hospital-acquired Covid infection can be extremely serious.
Studies show that hospital-acquired Covid infections increase in-hospital mortality by at least 30%.
It’s downright negligent & dangerous to be doing so little to prevent this.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Studies show that hospital-acquired Covid infections increase in-hospital mortality by at least 30%.
It’s downright negligent & dangerous to be doing so little to prevent this.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
December 18, 2024 at 11:44 PM
The implications of a hospital-acquired Covid infection can be extremely serious.
Studies show that hospital-acquired Covid infections increase in-hospital mortality by at least 30%.
It’s downright negligent & dangerous to be doing so little to prevent this.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Studies show that hospital-acquired Covid infections increase in-hospital mortality by at least 30%.
It’s downright negligent & dangerous to be doing so little to prevent this.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Meanwhile…
Out of all the people currently in hospital with COVID in Wales, at least 72% of them were admitted for another reason and were infected with Covid SINCE THEY WERE ADMITTED.
Hospital-acquired Covid infections are no longer reported in England, but it’s almost certainly a similar story.
Out of all the people currently in hospital with COVID in Wales, at least 72% of them were admitted for another reason and were infected with Covid SINCE THEY WERE ADMITTED.
Hospital-acquired Covid infections are no longer reported in England, but it’s almost certainly a similar story.
December 18, 2024 at 11:44 PM
Meanwhile…
Out of all the people currently in hospital with COVID in Wales, at least 72% of them were admitted for another reason and were infected with Covid SINCE THEY WERE ADMITTED.
Hospital-acquired Covid infections are no longer reported in England, but it’s almost certainly a similar story.
Out of all the people currently in hospital with COVID in Wales, at least 72% of them were admitted for another reason and were infected with Covid SINCE THEY WERE ADMITTED.
Hospital-acquired Covid infections are no longer reported in England, but it’s almost certainly a similar story.
There’s a simple logical process to infection control guidance in hospitals:
1️⃣ Determine mode of transmission
2️⃣ Apply corresponding IPC measures for the determined mode
3️⃣ If airborne => FFP3 masks & ventilation / air filtration
We now know Covid is AIRBORNE, so why has the guidance not changed?
1️⃣ Determine mode of transmission
2️⃣ Apply corresponding IPC measures for the determined mode
3️⃣ If airborne => FFP3 masks & ventilation / air filtration
We now know Covid is AIRBORNE, so why has the guidance not changed?
December 18, 2024 at 11:34 PM
There’s a simple logical process to infection control guidance in hospitals:
1️⃣ Determine mode of transmission
2️⃣ Apply corresponding IPC measures for the determined mode
3️⃣ If airborne => FFP3 masks & ventilation / air filtration
We now know Covid is AIRBORNE, so why has the guidance not changed?
1️⃣ Determine mode of transmission
2️⃣ Apply corresponding IPC measures for the determined mode
3️⃣ If airborne => FFP3 masks & ventilation / air filtration
We now know Covid is AIRBORNE, so why has the guidance not changed?
Grouping flu & pneumonia deaths together presents a misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of flu and minimise the impact of Covid.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill.bsky.social)
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill.bsky.social)
December 18, 2024 at 3:33 AM
Grouping flu & pneumonia deaths together presents a misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of flu and minimise the impact of Covid.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill.bsky.social)
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill.bsky.social)
Yes, the UK Office for National Statistics publishes data on the leading causes of death.
(See section 5 ⬇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...)
But frustratingly they don’t publish the full raw data of ICD-10 codes.
Instead they publish the data with deaths grouped into categories…
/1
(See section 5 ⬇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...)
But frustratingly they don’t publish the full raw data of ICD-10 codes.
Instead they publish the data with deaths grouped into categories…
/1
December 18, 2024 at 3:30 AM
Yes, the UK Office for National Statistics publishes data on the leading causes of death.
(See section 5 ⬇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...)
But frustratingly they don’t publish the full raw data of ICD-10 codes.
Instead they publish the data with deaths grouped into categories…
/1
(See section 5 ⬇️
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...)
But frustratingly they don’t publish the full raw data of ICD-10 codes.
Instead they publish the data with deaths grouped into categories…
/1
Oh, and just fyi, Stuart McDonald, Actuary & Deputy Chair of the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) agrees with me & others that the expected deaths for 2024 look too high, particularly for the latter part of the year.
December 17, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Oh, and just fyi, Stuart McDonald, Actuary & Deputy Chair of the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) agrees with me & others that the expected deaths for 2024 look too high, particularly for the latter part of the year.
Agreed. FLU & PNEUMONIA deaths should absolutely NOT be grouped together.
It presents a highly misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of FLU and minimise the impact of COVID.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill)
It presents a highly misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of FLU and minimise the impact of COVID.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill)
December 17, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Agreed. FLU & PNEUMONIA deaths should absolutely NOT be grouped together.
It presents a highly misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of FLU and minimise the impact of COVID.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill)
It presents a highly misleading picture which serves to massively OVER-inflate the impact of FLU and minimise the impact of COVID.
When presented separately, this is the true picture of Covid vs flu deaths.
(Chart: @jneill)
EXCESS DEATHS
In week 48 2024:
▪️Expected deaths: 12,380
▪️Actual deaths: 11,006
In week 48 2023:
▪️Expected deaths: 10,898
▪️Actual deaths: 11,328
They’ve raised the baseline of expected deaths by a whopping 14% since this time last year!
No wonder there’s no excess… 🤯
In week 48 2024:
▪️Expected deaths: 12,380
▪️Actual deaths: 11,006
In week 48 2023:
▪️Expected deaths: 10,898
▪️Actual deaths: 11,328
They’ve raised the baseline of expected deaths by a whopping 14% since this time last year!
No wonder there’s no excess… 🤯
December 17, 2024 at 8:14 PM
EXCESS DEATHS
In week 48 2024:
▪️Expected deaths: 12,380
▪️Actual deaths: 11,006
In week 48 2023:
▪️Expected deaths: 10,898
▪️Actual deaths: 11,328
They’ve raised the baseline of expected deaths by a whopping 14% since this time last year!
No wonder there’s no excess… 🤯
In week 48 2024:
▪️Expected deaths: 12,380
▪️Actual deaths: 11,006
In week 48 2023:
▪️Expected deaths: 10,898
▪️Actual deaths: 11,328
They’ve raised the baseline of expected deaths by a whopping 14% since this time last year!
No wonder there’s no excess… 🤯
In 2025, the following groups WON’T be eligible for an NHS Covid booster:
❌ clinically vulnerable ppl (unless immunosuppressed)
❌ most people under 75
❌ pregnant women
❌ health & care workers
Private Covid vaccines are available at a cost of ~£100 per dose. That’s ~£400 for a family of 4.
❌ clinically vulnerable ppl (unless immunosuppressed)
❌ most people under 75
❌ pregnant women
❌ health & care workers
Private Covid vaccines are available at a cost of ~£100 per dose. That’s ~£400 for a family of 4.
December 16, 2024 at 11:06 AM
In 2025, the following groups WON’T be eligible for an NHS Covid booster:
❌ clinically vulnerable ppl (unless immunosuppressed)
❌ most people under 75
❌ pregnant women
❌ health & care workers
Private Covid vaccines are available at a cost of ~£100 per dose. That’s ~£400 for a family of 4.
❌ clinically vulnerable ppl (unless immunosuppressed)
❌ most people under 75
❌ pregnant women
❌ health & care workers
Private Covid vaccines are available at a cost of ~£100 per dose. That’s ~£400 for a family of 4.
An extract from the IPC Cell Minutes (Sep 2020) sheds light on their reticence to change position re: airborne transmission of Covid:
“If you wanted to change the guidance itself, it would need a very careful narrative as it would be easy to give the impression that we got it WRONG the first time.”
“If you wanted to change the guidance itself, it would need a very careful narrative as it would be easy to give the impression that we got it WRONG the first time.”
December 11, 2024 at 1:23 PM
An extract from the IPC Cell Minutes (Sep 2020) sheds light on their reticence to change position re: airborne transmission of Covid:
“If you wanted to change the guidance itself, it would need a very careful narrative as it would be easy to give the impression that we got it WRONG the first time.”
“If you wanted to change the guidance itself, it would need a very careful narrative as it would be easy to give the impression that we got it WRONG the first time.”