Libby Smith

researcher @MCRI_for_kids. Interested in child development, hearing, speech, language, literacy and the brain. Views expressed are my own.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@EDisinterest That’s not tough, that’s terrifying. Hope she will be okay. My partner and I also have Covid, but our kids have completely avoided it, despite our inability to isolate from them. So random.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@VictorianCHO Very grateful my vulnerable mother could get her second booster recently in time for the inevitable winter surge. Our little household has succumbed to Covid this week. We’re feeling pretty rubbish too, with cold-like symptoms and mild fevers, but the kids seem to have escaped.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@DrKatedeBruin Bronchiecstasis? My mother has the same, from childhood measles. I wonder if she is eligible. I hope she is soon.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@vokjart @DanchinMargie You can’t rely on it on an individual level. But that level of reduced risk should lead to reduced spread. Which is what we’re seeing in some areas of NSW. So by getting vaxxed and reducing spread, you do protect others.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@vokjart @DanchinMargie Yes, I’m cautious. The recent Lancet paper on BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness against Delta indicates 88% protection from infection waning to 47% after 6 months. I would argue that’s a significant reduction.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@vokjart @DanchinMargie So I get that a vaxxed Covid +ve person will have similar viral loads as an unvaxxed Covid +ve person. But if you’re vaccinated aren’t you substantially less likely to become positive in the first place? If you are exposed by stay -ve you won’t spread it, thus protecting others.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@vokjart @DanchinMargie If my unvaxxed son brings Covid home from school, I should be ~80% protected from symptomatic infection after recent Pfizer. If I visit my vulnerable parents before I know, doesn’t my vaccination also protect them? Because I am less likely to have caught it?

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@folitarik @dbRaevn @samanthamaiden In NSW?

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@laurenolivialdn Surely Vic is a hotspot until we achieve our vaccination target for opening up in accordance with the national plan ~5th Nov). Sydney is a hotspot until 11/10/21, when they will reach 80%.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@JpQte @ProlResistance @ProfPCDoherty The unvaxed person, before being hospitalised, is most likely to have passed the virus on, especially if their associates are also unvaccinated. Taking up hospital resources unnecessarily is a major issue. In Victoria, only 5% of those in hospital are fully vaxxed.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@ChaosNeuro @ProfPCDoherty @Todnikowsky Do you think we should stay in lock down forever? People will die when we open up but I think the state Gov are doing their best. At least most people will be vaccinated by the time we reach peak infection rates.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@LA_Lockerman @DudespostingWs She probably wasn’t dressed for it. https://t.co/dUs6qR4oaP

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@covidbaseau Wow! Very impressive. This is what smart kids can do when they’re not playing Fortnite all waking hours 🙄

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@apsmunro What about the risk of long Covid in teens? It’s the worst time of life to miss out on school/social/sport for months on end, especially after 18 months of lockdowns. How many cases of long Covid will be prevented by vaccines?

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@SharnelleVella Some people have been driven to suicide due to pandemic related factors, but some have been protected by these factors (with the stats coming out even). JobKeeper was protective, but that is no more. Research on protective factors may be helpful.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@thelittlepplaus @ketaminh Sadly many more than 4000 will die. We’re really only at the beginning.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@TheCurts04 @David0HH7 @SharnelleVella Don’t think the kids that caught it at the MCG caught it at the bar.

[Libby Smith @libby_csmith]

@JanineW23977439 @ProfPCDoherty You get three or four of these text messages at intervals after each vaccination