Martin McKee 🇺🇦 @martinmckee Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

We need to accept we have failed. We've been pointing out for months that wearing face coverings is to protect others. Your choice determines my risk. Yet we haven't made the message sufficiently simple to educate ministers. Although maybe we have the wrong people as ministers?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Is anyone else getting fed up with people applauding Mr Johnson for success of 🇬🇧 vaccine program? I thought it was due to Kate Bingham, the Oxford team, and above all the incredible work of NHS, volunteers & others.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

It seems that it is easier to get a £120 million contract to run a COVID lab (no experience, or even having an actual lab required) than it is to get universal credit

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

I was wrong. I admit it. I thought the first “benefit” of Brexit for food supply would be allowing us to eat chlorinated chicken. I completely missed the radioactive vegetables 👇

Telegraph Politics

@TelePolitics

2 years

🇬🇧🇯🇵 Fish and vegetables grown near the old Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan can be freely sold in Britain after the Food Standards Agency scrapped a rule on radioactivity levels in produce

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

An unprecedented intervention by Association of Directors of Public Health - calling on UK government to delay easing lockdown until tracing system is robust. How on earth has it come to this?

ADPH Presidential Blog: A time for steady leadership, careful preparation and measured steps - ADPH

COVID-19 has already taken a huge social and economic toll on our nation – and the reality is that it will continue to do so for some time. We are at a critical moment. We need to weigh up the...

www.adph.org.uk

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Dear Prime Minister, I’m told that my taxes support GCHQ, automatic number plate recognition, facial recognition technology & much else to keep public safe. Please reassure me this money isn’t wasted & the massive effort can tell us where someone with active infection went.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

We’ll hear a lot in 🇬🇧 over next few days about need to reduce spending on pandemic response. Fair enough. But can we use accurate figures, given that much of £ spent wasn’t actually on useful countermeasures but on transfers from taxpayers to friends of ministers?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

To all my amazing research collaborators across the world. Please don't judge us here in the UK by the idiotic words of our Education Minister. He may shock you (although you may just be laughing) but he embarrasses us just as much.

Gavin Williamson: UK is 'a much better country than every single one of them'

Education secretary lauds vaccine rollout saying scientists in UK better than in France, Belgium or US

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

The pandemic is NOT over. The 🇬🇧 may have given up but we on @IndependentSage haven't. Today we set out a 7 point plan @bmj_latest 🧵 1. Clear and consistent messaging concerning covid risk and risk mitigation, reinforced by public statements by those in positions of authority;

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

I’ve great respect for scientists who appear at the daily UK briefings but it’s unfair to ask them to appear with ministers. After today’s charade we must separate science from politics & have scientists engage with science journalists.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

I'm sensing widespread incredulity & shock at the messaging from Downing Street. This is an existential moment for the UK. Will the government deliberately act in a way that makes the country a pariah state? I fear it might. The seriousness of this simply cannot be overstated

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

So many times I was asked “But Sweden …” Now we have a detailed, and damning account of what went wrong. “drastic deviation from 280 years of respect for scientific facts” A reminder that a well prepared country with expertise +++ can go terribly wrong

Evaluation of science advice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Evaluation of science advice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

www.nature.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

“Siri, define mansplaining” @JMPSimor just made my day

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I'm old enough to remember when Jacob Rees Mogg told us that fish would be happier post-Brexit because they were swimming in British waters. I think he omitted some important details.

Jacob Rees-Mogg says fish are ‘happier’ now they’re in British waters

‘Obviously there’s no overwhelming evidence for that,' Speaker says

www.independent.co.uk

BBC Breakfast

@BBCBreakfast

3 years

WATCH: Untreated sewage was released into Langstone Harbour, Hampshire for 49 hours. Photographer Chris Pearsal, who captured the footage, tells #BBCBreakfast ‘it needs to stop’.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Is this the most ill-judged tweet of the pandemic, in a very competitive field? “Cowering “?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Am I the only one of my generation from Northern Ireland (the one that experienced the Troubles at first hand) who finds the claim that international law must be broken to save the peace process utterly sickening?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Interesting how narrative is developing. Focus public attention on n Geoffrey Cox (actions unwise, easy to present, but not illegal) and divert from real scandals - Cash for peerages - COVID procurement Follow @GoodLawProject not tabloid headlines

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Two things we got wrong at beginning of pandemic that still have consequences. Failing to accept that: 1. #COVIDisAirborne 2. COVID is a multi system disease (yes, could add lots more but those 2 are key to much that followed)

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

So Boris Johnson thinks those of us working from home have had enough “days off”! Has he any idea?? Some of us have been working 10-14 hours/day for a year across multiple time zones ... I always worked hard but never as intense as this year.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

10 months

Slightly strange living in a country where the right to drive a heavily polluting car is seen as more important than the right to peaceful protest.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

If MPs are willing to vote through a 2000 page agreement they cannot possibly have scrutinised, I hope they realise that they will be telling the world that they are essentially irrelevant as legislators & holding executive to account. This is very dangerous for democracy

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

1/7 I’ve been reflecting on work I’ve done over the past decade and attitudes to it. Maybe I’m being unfair but I sometimes sense a bit of hypocrisy from some people 🧵

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Wanted: 🇬🇧 Brexit negotiator to negotiate Brexit (that’s already been done) Essential requirements: understanding of how EU works 2.Ability to take 1 step forward & 2 back 3.Views international law as optional 4.Willingness to be thrown under bus by PM

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

I’ve been a strong critic of @PHE_uk but it is completely unacceptable for ministers to give a story to a Sunday paper with no analysis of what problem is being solved, how it will be solved, and what the solution will look like. This government is incapable of governing

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

As the situation in 🇬🇧 develops over next few days, a reminder of what we @IndependentSage said on 15th December

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Beginning to wonder if U.K. ministers have been reprogrammed by a hostile power determined to destroy the country. Anyone got a better explanation?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Right wing media: “people should make their own decisions based on the evidence” CMO: “here is the evidence and my expert interpretation” People: “we’ve listened and we agree” Politicians: “we must stop people hearing evidence & expert interpretation”

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

We - @IndependentSage - call for clarity on UK's #COVID strategy in the Sunday Times. We can't just depend on the vaccine, important though it is

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

These are scenes I was familiar with growing up. Yet every time I warned during the referendum campaign that Brexit could lead to violence English Brexit supporters accused me of Project Fear. This behaviour is totally unjustified but Johnson & DUP must accept some responsibility

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

This thread, by @jburnmurdoch , may be the most important story in England this year - the NHS seems to be collapsing, 100s of people are dying each week who shouldn’t, and this is NOT happening elsewhere in Europe. We are now a failed state & govt is on holiday.

John Burn-Murdoch

@jburnmurdoch

2 years

NEW: the collapse of emergency healthcare in England may be costing 500 lives every week, a close match for non-Covid excess deaths Let’s look at how we reach that conclusion, by taking a deep-dive into non-Covid excess mortality and its possible causes

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Any lingering doubt I might have had that the Rwanda policy was a) even half thought through b) anything other than a political game has been completely dispelled by Ms Patel's arrogant & contemptuous performance in the Commons. And striking that it is opposed by Theresa May

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Watching a tragedy unfold. MPs should not be promoting misinformation on vaccines. Period. This claim is simply untrue and people will, reasonably ask why they should trust figures in authority. As head of MHRA has said, the vaccine was approved under EU rules

Michael Fabricant 🇬🇧🇮🇱🇺🇦

@Mike_Fabricant

3 years

Worth noting that if we were still in the #EU , we would not have been allowed to roll out the #Covid vaccine. #UK passed regulations last week permitting this. #JustSayin #BrexitBenefits

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

1 year

Given 🇬🇧 ministers seem to struggle with maths, maybe I can help. I’ve 4 apples. You take 1 & leave me with 3. I’ve suffered a 25% cut in apples. I ask for apple restoration. I need 1 more to have my original 4. That’s a 33% increase. I’m back where I was. It’s not “unreasonable”

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

The world is looking at England's #COVID19 policy with stunned disbelief

England’s Covid unlocking is threat to world, say 1,200 scientists

International experts say ‘unethical experiment’ could allow vaccine-resistant variants to develop

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

5 years

My admiration for @Femi_Sorry is unbounded - being willing to engage in this utter nonsense. How can professional TV presenters know so little about the EU

Femi

@Femi_Sorry

5 years

Oh my god this was frustrating! You're either a member of the European Union OR YOU'RE NOT! #GMB

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Possibly the most damning assessment of a UK government you will read in a mainstream newspaper (also citing paper by @DrMikeWGill @sarahwollaston & me)

Patrick Cockburn: Brexit led to totally incompetent leadership at a time of crisis. We are paying...

The terrible death toll from coronavirus is down to the decisions made by our Gilbert-and-Sullivan style leadership

www.independent.co.uk

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I know it’s very unfashionable for the U.K. to learn from elsewhere but maybe we should be aware of what is happening in Israel before we remove all #COVID restrictions?

Haaretz.com

@haaretzcom

3 years

The number of serious COVID cases in Israel has risen by almost 50 percent since last week, Health Ministry data shows

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Normal service has resumed

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

I've been working with wonderful Ukrainian colleagues for over 20 years - my thoughts are with everyone there today. But also with my many good Russian friends, who I am sure are just as shocked as me. This is not a war between peoples.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

7 years

@Jeremy_Hunt Actually this Lancet paper showing effect due to casemix, not staffing is the most important Hawking is right

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

@JohnSimpsonNews @maitlis Yea, but when one side of the argument is being put forward by 98% + of experts in the field and the other by a few eccentrics with track records of getting things wrong it’s hardly balanced. And this is what happened with science/health & Brexit

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Given that the Cabinet Secretary will be busy for several weeks finding out if there was a party, who will take on the equally important investigation into why security at No 10 is so lax they have no record of who comes and goes and when?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

If anyone want to understand why the UK has done so badly in the pandemic, this by Led @ByDonkeys narrated by @gavinesler is the best account I’ve seen. We cannot allow Johnson & Cummings to blame others for their failures

Led By Donkeys

@ByDonkeys

4 years

Johnson and Cummings: A Timeline of Failure (Part One) Location: Barnard Castle (Sound on - thanks to @GavinEsler for narration)

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

My colleague @Kit_Yates_Maths thinks we should try to reduce preventable deaths. I agree. But in 🇬🇧 now we’re told we shouldn’t. It seems I’ve completely misunderstood what I should have been doing as a public health doctor over 35 years.

Kit Yates

@Kit_Yates_Maths

2 years

I can't believe I had the audacity to advocate for reducing preventable early deaths. How embarrassing for me.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I’m now persuaded (based on specific mutations & epidemiology) that new strain is more infectious. But so much time has been wasted as we’ve all been unsure whether Johnson was just looking for an excuse to u-turn. This is what happens when you squander trust.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Dominic Cummings has broken Covid-19 policy trust, say top scientists

Health experts warn lives ‘put at risk’, as Opinium/Observer poll shows slump in Tory support

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

3/7 People concerned about the mental health of people affected by pandemic countermeasures, but were silent when we showed the mental health harm caused by #austerity

Financial crisis, austerity, and health in Europe - PubMed

The financial crisis in Europe has posed major threats and opportunities to health. We trace the origins of the economic crisis in Europe and the responses of governments, examine the effect on...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

2/7 People who condemn restrictions on freedom but took away the freedom of so many others to live, love, and work in the EU after #Brexit

How will Brexit affect health services in the UK? An updated evaluation - PubMed

All forms of Brexit are bad for health, but some are worse than others. This paper builds on our 2017 analysis using the WHO health system building blocks framework to assess the likely effects of...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

5/7 People who complain about the economic damage caused by pandemic responses but support #Brexit , which will hit growth much worse .

Impact of Brexit on economy 'worse than Covid'

The boss of the UK's forecaster says Brexit will be worse for the economy than Covid.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

4/7 People who want schools open for the sake of the children, whatever the risks, but supported policies that left our children with some of the worst health risks in Europe

Improving child health services in the UK: insights from Europe and their implications for the NHS...

The coalition government’s Health and Social Care Bill is unlikely to deliver the improvements in children’s health services that are urgently needed. Useful lessons can be learnt from how other...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

@IanDunt Indeed - that was why we set up @IndependentSage Anyone can look at our reports from the time - no need for hindsight

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

11 months

So WhatsApps can't simply be handed to @covidinquiryuk on grounds of national security but: a) Lady Hallett is security cleared b) Highly classified/ sensitive material shouldn't be on WhatsApp anyway c) Politicians already leak like sieves when it suits them What am I missing?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

6 years

Just to remind us that @doctor_oxford ‘s challenge to Nigel Farage has been retweeted almost 18,000 times in under 3 days & Farage has yet to reply.

Dr Rachel Clarke

@doctor_oxford

6 years

Dear Mr Farage, as an NHS doctor who cares for terminally ill inpatients, let me tell you what’s disgraceful. 1/n

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

I’m old enough to remember when Omicron was mild …still, who could have predicted that hospitalisations would rise like this?

Anthony Costello

@globalhlthtwit

2 years

As expected, hospital admissions in London are now shooting upwards. Data up to 22 December.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I've had most incredible onslaught of abuse since tweeting link to #ZeroCOVID petition. Many people misunderstand what it means (and seem willing to accept uncertainty of endless cycle of lockdowns, economic/social harm & impossibility to plan anything)

All countries should pursue a Covid-19 elimination strategy: here are 16 reasons why | Michael...

Countries trying to eliminate the virus have been far more successful and economically better off than those that have tried to suppress it

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

A thought... Lots of people saying that we accept thousands of deaths from flu every year, so why not also accept deaths from COVID. Leaving aside how the two viruses & infections are completely different, maybe we should ask why we accept so many flu deaths?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

As someone who grew up during The Troubles, hearing a UK minister (worse, a law officer) claiming their breach of international law is to preserve peace in Ireland is sickening beyond belief. The Attorney General is a disgrace.

Ellie Reeves

@elliereeves

4 years

When I challenged the Attorney General on what she has done to defend the rule of law in the face of the Govt’s intention to break international law she retaliated to calling me ‘emotional’. Disappointed to receive personal attacks for trying to defend the rule of law.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

OK, I work on both #COVID19 & #Brexit so maybe it’s just me. Yet I can’t help feeling there’s some connection between wanting to tear up rules on state aid & a Moonshot project that could give £100 billion to a small group of companies without open competition

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

This is incredible - UK govt gave PPE contracts worth millions to a chocolate company, a company insolvent with no employees, and of course the usual friends. Amazed Johnson wants to claim he was giving pandemic response all his attention - most would want to blame others

Jo Maugham

@JolyonMaugham

3 years

We're now able to reveal the names of four more beneficiaries of the Government's VIP lane.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

David Davis was the Secretary of State for Brexit - need I say more?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

So the Northern Ireland Protocol isn’t working? Really? Or is the real reason 🇬🇧 wants rid of it that it shows that #Brexit isn’t working?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Israel, with over half its population vaccinated, is giving us a warning against opening up too soon. The vaccine is hugely important but it’s not magic. We need a comprehensive strategy.

Drop in Israel's COVID infection rates comes to a halt, raising concerns of renewed outbreak

***

www.haaretz.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Still think herd immunity is a good idea? We've set out in detail why it is unethical, impossible, and an all round bad idea in @TheLancet More details at #JohnSnowMemo

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

The #COVID19 situation is now critical in UK. We @IndependentSage have just called for an emergency circuit break (with support for affected businesses) to "save Christmas"

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

A recent 🇺🇸 study found good evidence linking #COVID in children with diabetes. Some critics worked very hard to dismiss it (even though many criticisms could be rebutted from data in paper). Now an even more detailed German one gets similar results

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany:...

OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID

diabetesjournals.org

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

7/7 ... and who express sympathy for people harmed by necessary measures to reduce spread of COVID but dismissed our April 2020 call to protect them

Mitigating the wider health effects of covid-19 pandemic response

Countries worldwide have implemented strict controls on movement in response to the covid-19 pandemic. The aim is to cut transmission by reducing close contact (box 1), but the measures have profound...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

6/7 ... who ignored the evidence we assembled in April 2020 that it's not health OR the economy but health AND the economy

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

The #PPE #procurement scandal shows why we need ways to hold ministers to account. My thoughts @bmj_latest w/ shout out to @JolyonMaugham @doctor_oxford @DrDomPimenta

The UK’s PPE procurement scandal reminds us why we need ways to hold ministers to account - The BMJ

Martin McKee looks at what lessons we can learn from the government’s many failures in procuring PPE during the pandemic It is never easy to explain how politicians are held [...]More...

blogs.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Maybe those arguing UK can lift restrictions once older people vaccinated might look at Israeli experience? But then that would involve looking at experiences of others and we don't do that.

Spike in kids with COVID-19 means Israel unlikely to open schools

“This is something we did not witness in previous waves of coronavirus,” Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told The Jerusalem Post.

www.jpost.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

2 pensioners went to a UK #COVID19 test site. This is their experience. Sheer insanity (others letters here reinforce view that system is not fit for purpose)

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

3. Installing and/or upgrading ventilation/air filtration in all public buildings, with schools an urgent priority over the summer holidays; 4. Provision of free lateral flow tests to enable everyone to follow existing public health guidelines;

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

This is one of the most important graphs I've seen in many years. For a very long time life expectancy in 🇬🇧 and 🇮🇪 tracked each other. Thanks for drawing it to our attention @GabrielScally We should hear from every Conservative leadership candidate on this issue

Dr Gabriel Scally

@GabrielScally

2 years

Comparing life expectancy in UK and Ireland shows two things. That the UK has had a significant #publichealth crisis in the last 10 years and, also, just how badly the UK dealt with #COVID19 in its first year compared with our nearest neighbour

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

It is simply misleading to say that criticisms of UK response are being made with hindsight - our reports from @IndependentSage since April 2020 challenged what was done

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

This ⁦ @guardian ⁩ editorial that refers to our ⁦ @TheLancet ⁩ letter is spot on. 🇬🇧 decision to remove #COVID precautions is entirely political - science doesn’t come into it

The Guardian view on risking England’s health: not everyone can choose to stay safe | Editorial

Editorial: For too many, Johnson’s ‘freedom day’ will bring fear rather than release

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

When the inquiry is eventually held, some time far in the future, I predict that the efforts to underplay the role of schools in #COVID19 transmission will feature prominently. Great scoop by @carolecadwalla w/ comments by @dgurdasani1 & @chrischirp

No 10 ‘tried to block’ data on spread of new Covid variant in English schools

Scientists, unions and teachers concerned after data cut from Public Health England report ahead of shift on face masks

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

So what will happen with vaccines for 12-15 yr olds in 🇬🇧? JCVI are entitled to reach their own judgement but when it’s so far out of line with evidence others can see (& decisions elsewhere) they must explain & not just assert.

Ministers could defy JCVI and go ahead with Covid jabs for all 12- to 15-year-olds

Official vaccine advisers consider margin of benefit too small to support vaccination of entire age group

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

@joymorrissey I am increasingly concerned at politicians who promulgate policies that are contradictory & incoherent, defy basic principles from physics and biology, and answer sensible questions with schoolboy alliteration #CovidIsAirborne - voting that it isn't doesn't change the facts

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

@jburnmurdoch This is a great thread John but, for avoidance of doubt, many of us drawing attention to higher rates in U.K. have always been clear that there are multiple factors. Our criticism of U.K. govt is that it doesn’t seem to care

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

This is extremely disappointing - @maitlis is among the best journalists on UK television (and her book Airhead is a really good read!)

Inigo Gilmore

@InigoGilmore

4 years

Emily Maitlis replaced for Newsnight episode after Cummings remarks

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

BBC refers to “Mrs” @vonderleyen with medical degree & doctorate in medicine. WSJ attacks @DrBiden for using Dr despite doctorate in education. What must highly qualified women do to be recognised? Brexit: EU offer 'unacceptable' as trade talks continue

Brexit: EU offer 'unacceptable' as trade talks continue

Post-Brexit trade talks were held all night but sources say there is little sign of agreement.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

7 years

3 months ago I thought @jeremycorbyn was an unelectable disaster. I now realise I was wrong. Watch this and make you own mind up

ThePeopleUnited

@Ord_LeftRham

7 years

The BBC won't show this speech so it's up to we the people to spread the message of hope & truth You know what to do

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Always one of our most insightful commentators, ⁦ @JohnJCrace ⁩ captures perfectly the reason for caution this Christmas

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

A personal note. Even if only for a few minutes each day, @AuschwitzMuseum makes me pause and reflect. I’ll never forget visiting Auschwitz in early 1990s, 2 weeks after crossing front lines to leave friends in besieged Sarajevo. Please follow them, and never ever forget

Auschwitz Memorial

@AuschwitzMuseum

4 years

In August, we had 106 million tweet impressions. As we do not use promoted tweets, the only way people learn about our account is your activity. Thank you for every RT & mention. Please, support our mission here & help the @AuschwitzMuseum account grow. We remember together.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

If we are no longer “following the science,” what are we following? My thoughts ⁦ @bmj_latest ⁩

If we are no longer “following the science,” what are we following?

British ministers have now abandoned any pretence that they are “following the science” on covid-19. In their minutes from 10 February 2022, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I spent many hours today listening to Dominic Cummings. Maybe he is settling scores but his account fits well with everything we know and we’ve been hearing. But it raises wider questions about the U.K. government - my thoughts @bmj_latest

Martin McKee: What did we learn from Dominic Cummings' evidence to MPs on the covid crisis? - The...

Cummings’ evidence portrays a system that is not fit for purpose and goes some way to explaining why the UK’s performance on covid-19 was so poor Now that Boris Johnson, [...]More...

blogs.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

5 years

As a doctor I’m extremely angry. Theresa May, with complicity by Jeremy Corbyn, are pursuing policy that they know will kill people. This is utterly inexcusable given they could come together & withdraw Art50 - even if it’s too late for a #PeoplesVote just stop this madness

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

11 months

So David Cameron @covidinquiryuk doesn’t think his austerity policies weakened 🇬🇧 preparedness. Well maybe we can help. We wrote loads on this and while we don’t expect him to read it you would think someone would have briefed him

Weakened by a decade of austerity: why the UK’s covid-19 inquiry is right to look at policies since...

Any concerns that the UK’s covid-19 inquiry would give ministers an easy ride seem to have been dispelled by the determination with which its chair, Heather Hallett, has pursued information held by...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

5. Financial and other support for all workers to self-isolate if infected; 6. Systematic promotion of the use of FFP2/FFP3 masks in indoor public spaces and public transport when infection rates are high;

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

Full statement here

A seven point plan to suppress covid infections and reduce disruptions

It is now a year since the Westminster Government removed remaining covid protections on so-called “Freedom Day,” 19 July 2021. Since then, the emphasis has been on “personal responsibility” and...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Earlier today @LiamFox criticised my friend @chrischirp for being partisan in her comments on the UK's #COVID19 response. Worth reading the responses to her - anyone would be delighted to get such as outpouring of support! It's clear who is trusted here.

Prof. Christina Pagel

@chrischirp

3 years

since this interview seems to have upset certain people I am retweeting. Judge for yourself if you think I am being unfair! #HardlineCentrist

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 years

No minister, a “protective ring” was not thrown around care homes My take on the recent High Court case ⁦ @bmj_latest ⁩

No minister, a “protective ring” was not thrown around care homes

Margaret Thatcher famously said “Advisers advise, ministers decide.”1 Yet, throughout the covid-19 pandemic this distinction has often seemed blurred. Ministers justified decisions by claiming they...

www.bmj.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Some thoughts on numbers: We’re rightly horrified by 🇺🇸 gun deaths ~38k/yr - equates to ~7.6k in 🇬🇧 population But @ current 🇬🇧 rates we could expect ~50k COVID deaths/yr And we’re meant to learn to live with that? How did we get to a place where we normalise so much suffering?

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Some people have asked whether it matters that the U.K. has one of Europe’s highest COVID rates. It does, for those who die, families left behind, & those with Long COVID. But also for why we are even asking & the dystopian discourse behind the question- @dgurdasani1 explains 👇

Dr. Deepti Gurdasani

@dgurdasani1

3 years

I recently did an interview where I was asked to give my opinion on recent changes in UK border policy as an expert. After I did this, the two hosts discussed me, suggesting that I was out of touch, & didn't understand that we need to 'accept' risk. 🧵 on 'accepting' risks.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

So far we’ve rightly focused on failures of test & trace to explain UK’s dreadful COVID response. Now becoming clear that incompetent & possibly corrupt procurement playing a major role too - @JolyonMaugham is doing an amazing job revealing it

Jo Maugham

@JolyonMaugham

3 years

An FOI request of the Health and Safety Executive in relation to PPE supplied to the Department of Health by Pestfix has turned up some quite extraordinary material. THREAD

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

My amazing colleague @chrischirp tells it as it is. Mr Johnson is ignoring the science yet again and people will die

Prof. Christina Pagel

@chrischirp

3 years

I've been doing quite a bit of media today. Yesterday's PHE report on the new dominant variant B.1.617.2 was not good news. Cases, hospitalisations & deaths have all risen quite a bit this week. Not great. On @SkyNews just now, I may have lost my patience half way through.

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

2 months

Others have commented on the incoherence of Sunak’s speech on extremism and how some of his MPs have fuelled it. But there’s something else to consider 🧵

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

Really don't know where to begin. Testing, tracing, vaccine roll out, Brexit planning are all really difficult things to do. Yet UK govt insists on handing responsibility to people with NO qualifications and wonders why they mess up

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

Can we move on from the nonsense about herd immunity? ⁦ @devisridhar ⁩ sets out a clear view plan to get #COVID19 under control - using the same approach as advocated by ⁦ @IndependentSage ⁩ & countries that are successes

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

4 years

If this report is correct, the Education Secretary is making policy based on a ⁦ @PHE_uk ⁩ study that is not even available as a pre-print. This is utterly unacceptable and PHE should say so

Little evidence Covid spreads in schools, says Gavin Williamson

Education secretary says research ‘makes it clear there is little evidence virus is transmitted’ in classrooms

www.theguardian.com

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Martin McKee 🇺🇦

@martinmckee

3 years

I've been asked by a few journalists today about the latest testing fiasco but have stressed that the person they really should be talking to is @JolyonMaugham This is primarily a procurement/ governance failure - technical issues are secondary

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