COVID-19: the B.1.1.529 variant – what do we know?

There’s a lot of news about a new variant originally reported in southern Africa. Early signs have prompted calls for immediate precautionary blocks on travel from the region to restrict its spread. The WHO has called an emergency conference on this variant. Here’s a round-up of what we know so far. If you’re in a hurry, and want to know my call: Thankfully,...

Nov 2021

Carl Sagan on climate change in 1985 and we’re still talking

“We have a kind of handwriting on the wall” Carl Sagan says from 36 years ago. His message from the past that rings so close to our talks today. Sagan gives a nice explanation of the Greenhouse Effect, even if I worry it goes over the head of most US senators. I swear that’s a younger Al Gore taking it all in. It’s prescient stuff when you listen...

Nov 2021

COVID-19 Worried about getting your vaccine or want a simple explanation?

Worried about getting your vaccine? Let me tell you a secret. No-one likes getting a vaccine. People do it because they know they’re better off to. Let me tell you another secret, a weird one: the vaccine doesn’t really “do” anything. Confusing? Let me explain… Vaccines are a face at the right place, at the right time. The vaccine isn’t doing anything,...

Oct 2021

COVID-19 Helping people check locations of interest

OPINION. It’s important locate as many people who have been at locations of interest as possible in New Zealand’s Delta variant outbreak. Because few people have been scanning QR codes or keeping other personal records we’re relying on people to check the Ministry of Health’s list of locations of interest. A few initiatives might help this. People...

Aug 2021

COVID-19 The rise and rise of Delta

From media headlines it feels like hearing the boy cry “fire” in the theatre. There’s a new variant about. Or perhaps he is really a crier, calling out a new season of the show, a new plot twist with a craftier villain? The main feature in town is now the variant Delta—B.1.617.2—and its closest staging to us is a so far modest event in Sydney. Reviews...

Jun 2021

Attempt to stop NZ vaccine rollout declined, government to pass new bill

The High Court has declined an attempt to halt New Zealand’s vaccination rollout. It does asks the Crown to consider how their plans sit within current law. The government plans to pass a Bill under urgency today to tackle this. I think a fair question is if the deeper issue lies with a lack of mechanism for emergency use approval in New Zealand. (This...

May 2021

COVID-19 vaccines prevent spread of the virus too

Many people seem to be reading that our COVID-19 vaccine won’t prevent the spread of COVID-19 from one person to the next.1 If you’re worried about this, this one is for you. We now have evidence the vaccine reduces transmission, and a rough idea of by how much.2 Science is often about pulling different pieces of evidence together, in this case two...

May 2021

Blood clots, vaccines and the need for baselines

Some nations are pausing their AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine campaigns over concerns that it may be linked to blood clots. International media is is reporting it widely. I’m seeing concerned people asking questions on social media. Evidence so far indicates this is unlikely to be a real issue, but one that is being checked out of caution. One thing...

Mar 2021

B.1.1.7 variant – early result suggests longer infections, management questions

Sometimes it’s smaller, intensive studies that shed light on issues. Just reported results of daily sampling of COVID-19 patients indicate patients with the B.1.1.7 variant first observed in Kent, UK may have a longer infection compared to patients infected with non-B.1.1.7 variants. This is the variant seen in NZ’s most recent outbreak in Auckland....

Feb 2021

COVID-19: backing our front row

New Zealand has been called out as an outstanding player in managing COVID-19. We’ve done well,[1] but we’re far from perfect. We could do a lot better at backing our front row. Epidemiologists advise nations not to play “wait and see”. If By the time they do see, it’s all over them. “She’ll be right”… until it isn’t. We’re less likely to have restrictions...

Oct 2020