VC
@vgc1720.bsky.social
she/her
I ❤️ turtlenecks & human rights.
MS Informatics & Analytics / Cultural Analytics.
Happily 💍
@covidactiongso.bsky.social 😷
I ❤️ turtlenecks & human rights.
MS Informatics & Analytics / Cultural Analytics.
Happily 💍
@covidactiongso.bsky.social 😷
Pinned
VC
@vgc1720.bsky.social
· Dec 6
This holiday season I encourage everyone to not pass around pneumonia, flu, RSV, or Covid.
No holiday discounts on the Christmas hospital stay.
Instead of complaining about mitigation tools, let’s be grateful we have safe & effective ways to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
No holiday discounts on the Christmas hospital stay.
Instead of complaining about mitigation tools, let’s be grateful we have safe & effective ways to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities.
Reposted by VC
1/
Actually #LongCOVID is globally prevalent after even "mild" COVID -
"Long COVID is globally prevalent after a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, highlighting a continuing health challenge":
academic.oup.com/ofid/article...
Actually #LongCOVID is globally prevalent after even "mild" COVID -
"Long COVID is globally prevalent after a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, highlighting a continuing health challenge":
academic.oup.com/ofid/article...
Global Prevalence of Long COVID, Its Subtypes, and Risk Factors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Quantitative evidence shows a persistent prevalence of long COVID globally, with a significant burden of symptoms that last 1–2 years postinfection, unders
academic.oup.com
December 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
1/
Actually #LongCOVID is globally prevalent after even "mild" COVID -
"Long COVID is globally prevalent after a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, highlighting a continuing health challenge":
academic.oup.com/ofid/article...
Actually #LongCOVID is globally prevalent after even "mild" COVID -
"Long COVID is globally prevalent after a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, highlighting a continuing health challenge":
academic.oup.com/ofid/article...
Reposted by VC
Accusing people with long Covid or other invisible illnesses of having "Munchausen syndrome" & using terms like this to deny someone's real suffering is emotional abuse
December 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Accusing people with long Covid or other invisible illnesses of having "Munchausen syndrome" & using terms like this to deny someone's real suffering is emotional abuse
Reposted by VC
Reminders, as public health officials warn of a very bad flu season:
🧵
* Washing hands is not a strategy for a respiratory virus. N95s, ventilation, air filtration -- especially in hospitals.
* We should have been cleaning indoor air with the same effort we put into cleaning drinking water.
1/
🧵
* Washing hands is not a strategy for a respiratory virus. N95s, ventilation, air filtration -- especially in hospitals.
* We should have been cleaning indoor air with the same effort we put into cleaning drinking water.
1/
December 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reminders, as public health officials warn of a very bad flu season:
🧵
* Washing hands is not a strategy for a respiratory virus. N95s, ventilation, air filtration -- especially in hospitals.
* We should have been cleaning indoor air with the same effort we put into cleaning drinking water.
1/
🧵
* Washing hands is not a strategy for a respiratory virus. N95s, ventilation, air filtration -- especially in hospitals.
* We should have been cleaning indoor air with the same effort we put into cleaning drinking water.
1/
Well, well, well…
“SARS-CoV-2 infection exerts profound and persistent effects on the adaptive immune system, a cornerstone of pathogen clearance and immune homeostasis [26].
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“SARS-CoV-2 infection exerts profound and persistent effects on the adaptive immune system, a cornerstone of pathogen clearance and immune homeostasis [26].
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Persistent Attenuation of Lymphocyte Subsets After Mass SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Growing evidence suggests that lymphocyte subsets are declined in COVID-19 patients, but it is unclear if these alterations persist after widespread e…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 7, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Well, well, well…
“SARS-CoV-2 infection exerts profound and persistent effects on the adaptive immune system, a cornerstone of pathogen clearance and immune homeostasis [26].
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“SARS-CoV-2 infection exerts profound and persistent effects on the adaptive immune system, a cornerstone of pathogen clearance and immune homeostasis [26].
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by VC
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
It's over.
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
Despite the fact that the academic council recommended against it, despite the fact that the program brought in more tuition than it cost, and despite the fact that Nebraskans need & deserve this expertise, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences will be cut.
www.dailynebraskan.com/news/adminis...
BREAKING: ‘This hurts’: UNL eliminates 4 programs despite faculty, student pleas
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln eliminates the Earth and atmospheric sciences 8-0, educational administration 7-1, statistics 7-1, textiles, merchandising and fashion design 7-1 programs.
www.dailynebraskan.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Heartbreaking. The University of Nebraska will terminate its entire Earth science department.
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
One of the country's most successful and respected geology & climate programs: gone.
When ideologues & politicians are threatened by the very act of studying climate change, I wonder: who of us is next?
Reposted by VC
Reposted by VC
I’ve now had multiple sources tell me the UK NHS is removing the CDC from its list of reliable sources.
Welcome to irrelevance.
Welcome to irrelevance.
December 6, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I’ve now had multiple sources tell me the UK NHS is removing the CDC from its list of reliable sources.
Welcome to irrelevance.
Welcome to irrelevance.
Reposted by VC
NHS England: “It will not be possible to halt the spread of a new pandemic virus, and it would be a waste of public health resources and capacity to attempt to do so.”
This has got to be one of the most 🤯 things I’ve ever seen written down in an official document.
This has got to be one of the most 🤯 things I’ve ever seen written down in an official document.
December 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
NHS England: “It will not be possible to halt the spread of a new pandemic virus, and it would be a waste of public health resources and capacity to attempt to do so.”
This has got to be one of the most 🤯 things I’ve ever seen written down in an official document.
This has got to be one of the most 🤯 things I’ve ever seen written down in an official document.
Reposted by VC
We're not supposed to execute people with intellectual disabilities because it violates the 8th amendment. The Supreme Court will hear a case where Alabama argues that Intellectual disability when it comes to death penalty should only be decided only by IQ tests.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Alabama wants to lower the bar for executing disabled people—if SCOTUS lets it
The case law is clear: There's more to intellectual disability than IQ tests. Will Trump's justices care?
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
We're not supposed to execute people with intellectual disabilities because it violates the 8th amendment. The Supreme Court will hear a case where Alabama argues that Intellectual disability when it comes to death penalty should only be decided only by IQ tests.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by VC
From EPI-PHARE in France, a 4-year study of 28 million adults aged 18 to 59 found no increased risk of all-cause mortality after mRNA COVID vaccination and a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and 4-Year All-Cause Mortality Among Adults in France
This cohort study uses the data from all adults aged 18 to 59 years living in France on November 1, 2021, to evaluate whether there is an association of receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with long-t...
jamanetwork.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
From EPI-PHARE in France, a 4-year study of 28 million adults aged 18 to 59 found no increased risk of all-cause mortality after mRNA COVID vaccination and a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by VC
Today, there is a person in Lincoln, NE that has had COVID for at least 4.5 years (probably in their GI tract) that almost certainly does not know they are infected.
We see the lineage every week. It would be easy to track them, at least from a technical perspective.
2/
We see the lineage every week. It would be easy to track them, at least from a technical perspective.
2/
December 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Today, there is a person in Lincoln, NE that has had COVID for at least 4.5 years (probably in their GI tract) that almost certainly does not know they are infected.
We see the lineage every week. It would be easy to track them, at least from a technical perspective.
2/
We see the lineage every week. It would be easy to track them, at least from a technical perspective.
2/
Reposted by VC
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air.
After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air.
After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed.
Vaccines could help, but the USDA hasn’t approved them.
Reposted by VC
Virus activity has been heating up in Canada the last few weeks, with more to come. The good news is that we actually have incredibly effective tools to protect ourselves and others.
Layered approach works, more people using it works better.
Layered approach works, more people using it works better.
December 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Virus activity has been heating up in Canada the last few weeks, with more to come. The good news is that we actually have incredibly effective tools to protect ourselves and others.
Layered approach works, more people using it works better.
Layered approach works, more people using it works better.
Reposted by VC
Very excited that Blueprint Biosecurity is funding studies that will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure! We're looking at infectious flu virus in respiratory particles with and without far-UVC.
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
Press Release: Building the Evidence Base for Far-UVC – Blueprint Biosecurity
New research initiative aimed at evaluating the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure
blueprintbiosecurity.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Very excited that Blueprint Biosecurity is funding studies that will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of far-UVC light as a pandemic countermeasure! We're looking at infectious flu virus in respiratory particles with and without far-UVC.
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
blueprintbiosecurity.org/building-the...
Reposted by VC
Six-week study of 67 students in four classes, 1047 saliva samples ->
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
The relative contribution of close-proximity contacts, shared classroom exposure and indoor air quality to respiratory virus transmission in schools - Nature Communications
The relative importance of close-proximity interactions, shared space and air quality to the transmission of respiratory viruses is not well understood. Here, the authors investigate this question by ...
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Six-week study of 67 students in four classes, 1047 saliva samples ->
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
"Prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HT: Emily Martin
Reposted by VC
The RECOVER Initiative has collected over 1.4 million biosamples from nearly 30,000 people to help uncover how Long COVID affects the body and guide future diagnostics and treatments.
recovercovid.org/news/over-14...
recovercovid.org/news/over-14...
RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
The long-term effects of COVID are real. Join the NIH in the search for answers.
recovercovid.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The RECOVER Initiative has collected over 1.4 million biosamples from nearly 30,000 people to help uncover how Long COVID affects the body and guide future diagnostics and treatments.
recovercovid.org/news/over-14...
recovercovid.org/news/over-14...
Reposted by VC
Sounds like the effort to permanently hand control of preventative health guidance in Canada to this group is being railroaded through, aiming to have it locked in by April 2026, before the public has time to react and start fighting back.
Spread the word, talk to politicians, journalists, etc.
Spread the word, talk to politicians, journalists, etc.
OK this is ridiculous. The draft new Canadian public health guidance-development mechanism doubles down on excluding subject matter experts from voting roles, restricts membership to people from inside the EBM pseudoscience bubble, and sets up to funnel public money to McMaster-GRADE courses etc.
Draft Implementation Plan for the Renewed Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care - Canada.ca
Feedback will help ensure effective implementation of the recommendations from the External Expert Review and inform a renewed Task Force.
www.canada.ca
December 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Sounds like the effort to permanently hand control of preventative health guidance in Canada to this group is being railroaded through, aiming to have it locked in by April 2026, before the public has time to react and start fighting back.
Spread the word, talk to politicians, journalists, etc.
Spread the word, talk to politicians, journalists, etc.
Reposted by VC
Nothing's certain, but if forced to hazard a guess, I'd predict this pattern will hold, with BA.3.2 eventually taking over from the currently dominant JN.1* descendants. 3/3
December 3, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Nothing's certain, but if forced to hazard a guess, I'd predict this pattern will hold, with BA.3.2 eventually taking over from the currently dominant JN.1* descendants. 3/3
The thing that is also frustrating, outside of the situation detailed below, is that ppl act like those of us who still mask are having some kind of grandiose “virtue signaling” tantrum….🙄
The reason why we wear respirator masks is bc ppl behave like this regularly & it’s disgusting & dangerous.
The reason why we wear respirator masks is bc ppl behave like this regularly & it’s disgusting & dangerous.
Very cool of my coworker to show up with COVID because the HOSPITAL I work for doesn't have any restrictions for employees with COVID anymore. And even cooler than my other coworker thinks her bee pollen hand spray will do the trick 👉👉
December 3, 2025 at 2:20 AM
The thing that is also frustrating, outside of the situation detailed below, is that ppl act like those of us who still mask are having some kind of grandiose “virtue signaling” tantrum….🙄
The reason why we wear respirator masks is bc ppl behave like this regularly & it’s disgusting & dangerous.
The reason why we wear respirator masks is bc ppl behave like this regularly & it’s disgusting & dangerous.
Reposted by VC
Very cool of my coworker to show up with COVID because the HOSPITAL I work for doesn't have any restrictions for employees with COVID anymore. And even cooler than my other coworker thinks her bee pollen hand spray will do the trick 👉👉
December 2, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Very cool of my coworker to show up with COVID because the HOSPITAL I work for doesn't have any restrictions for employees with COVID anymore. And even cooler than my other coworker thinks her bee pollen hand spray will do the trick 👉👉
Reposted by VC
Completely reasonable that your doctor or healthcare worker can give you COVID while your under their care at a hospital, right? The idea it’s just a cold sure is one expensive delusion.
Very cool of my coworker to show up with COVID because the HOSPITAL I work for doesn't have any restrictions for employees with COVID anymore. And even cooler than my other coworker thinks her bee pollen hand spray will do the trick 👉👉
December 3, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Completely reasonable that your doctor or healthcare worker can give you COVID while your under their care at a hospital, right? The idea it’s just a cold sure is one expensive delusion.
Reposted by VC
Please enjoy my cartoon for Wednesday's Toronto Star
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Please enjoy my cartoon for Wednesday's Toronto Star
Reposted by VC
Yogi Vemana University analyzed 1,845 samples and found that COVID-19 accelerates immune-related epigenetic aging, especially in older and female patients.
Non-Europeans showed even greater signs of aging in key immune-related clocks like PCPhenoAge.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Non-Europeans showed even greater signs of aging in key immune-related clocks like PCPhenoAge.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks highlight immune-driven aging acceleration in COVID-19 across diverse populations - Biogerontology
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected millions worldwide, with aging being a key risk factor for severe disease outcomes. This study examines the rate of epigenetic aging, as measured by DNA methylatio...
link.springer.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Yogi Vemana University analyzed 1,845 samples and found that COVID-19 accelerates immune-related epigenetic aging, especially in older and female patients.
Non-Europeans showed even greater signs of aging in key immune-related clocks like PCPhenoAge.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Non-Europeans showed even greater signs of aging in key immune-related clocks like PCPhenoAge.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by VC
A friend with a new baby asked guests to mask in order to hold her baby. A relative refused to mask & broke down in tears about her "restrictions"
As a reminder, babies <6 months have the 2nd highest hospitalization rate from Covid after adults 75+ & are too young to be vaxxed
As a reminder, babies <6 months have the 2nd highest hospitalization rate from Covid after adults 75+ & are too young to be vaxxed
December 2, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A friend with a new baby asked guests to mask in order to hold her baby. A relative refused to mask & broke down in tears about her "restrictions"
As a reminder, babies <6 months have the 2nd highest hospitalization rate from Covid after adults 75+ & are too young to be vaxxed
As a reminder, babies <6 months have the 2nd highest hospitalization rate from Covid after adults 75+ & are too young to be vaxxed
Reposted by VC
Public health: "We must do something about all this disinformation out there"
Also public health: "Here's a bar of soap to handwash your way out of COVID"
Also public health: "Here's a bar of soap to handwash your way out of COVID"
December 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Public health: "We must do something about all this disinformation out there"
Also public health: "Here's a bar of soap to handwash your way out of COVID"
Also public health: "Here's a bar of soap to handwash your way out of COVID"