[AMA] COVID ICU Doctor in Sydney [closed]

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7

• 

  windrc on 27/08/2021 - 09:40

  is there a place to find out which hospitals (public and private) have covid patients and/or covid icu ward?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 15:51

    I don't know, but you can bet pretty much every tertiary hospital in Sydney has a covid ward and COVID ICU

• 

  SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 09:53

  As a younger person (under 30) I'm hesitant to get the vaccine. Key points being:
  - I have no comorbidities (not a smoker, don't drink, fit & healthy)
  - Consider myself to have a strong immune system, rarely get sick (judgemental comment, I know)
  - 99.99% survival rate under 30 in Australia (20,000 cases, 2 deaths, excludes 1 death from that 16 year old who die "with" covid)

  Question being, do you think there should be a spectrum of who should get/need a vaccine? Or do you think a blanketed approach that everyone should be vaccinated is just "easier"?
  ,

  • 

    desync on 27/08/2021 - 10:52

    none of that matters

    we have no way of knowing what type of symptoms you'll get, if you get shortness of breath then it's up to your body to figure out how to build the right antibodies within about 2 weeks, if it fails to do that you'll probably need supplemental oxygen in hospital, if after 4 weeks your body still hasn't figured it out then you could be put in a medically induced coma and hooked up to a ventilator

    this is a new virus, we don't fear the common cold yet it almost wiped out native populations in australia and america, the common cold was new to them, their immune system had never seen it before, covid is the same thing for all of us, our bodies don't have last years covid antibody blueprint to work off so the odds of not figuring it out before you pass rise significantly

    the antibodies the vaccine gives you wont work instantly because the virus is now different but what it does do is it gives the immune system 90% of the blueprint so it just needs to figure out 10% instead of everything from scratch

  • 

    MJ90s on 27/08/2021 - 10:56

    +8

    Im in the same boat as you - was totally hesitant to get the vaccine before this whole outbreak in Sydney, i thought why should i get it if i probs would be fine if i contracted covid.

    My opinion changed when i made the decision that i wanted to protect those people close to me (my partner, my parents, close friends). It's "doing my bit" for the wider society. The fact is some of my friends still have the idea that "if covid wont kill me why would i get a vaccine that has a chance of killing me?" - that thought should change to "if i can protect my family and friends by getting the vaccine, why wouldnt i?". Its more about the other people i care about and vice versa. It reduces the infectiousness of the disease if i were to catch it and the seriousness of symptoms.

    I am a selfish person in alot of ways i must admit - getting the vaccine makes me feel a little less selfish.

    • 

      SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 11:18

      Yeah largely agree and acknowledge how the vaccine works and the effectiveness of it. Not denying this and strongly agree that the elderly and vulnerable individuals should be vaccinated.

      However, noting the follow:
      - There is a very small "random" factor as to how your immune system may respond to covid regardless of age & health
      - Covid does discriminate by age i.e. the older you are, the higher risk you are
      - Covid does discriminate by health i.e. the more comorbidities the higher risk of death / severe reactions

      Given this, there has to be a spectrum of risk and therefore need to be vaccinated.

    • 

      SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 11:27

      I also struggle with aligning to the "doing my bit" approach. Points being:
      - You being vaccinated reduces the risk by an immeasurable amount, unknown because they are so many other points of possible infection for those close to you
      - This is a marketing campaign for individuals to feel noble
      - Therefore should be a selfish decision about your own personal health

      • 

        MJ90s on 27/08/2021 - 11:43

        In regards to your notes:

        • Even if there is a small random factor, its the fact that if you do contract covid and are not vaccinated, the risk is higher (even the smallest amount) and you are more infectious to others (whatever small amount).
        • The risk of severe illness is still a chance whatever age you are and no matter if you have underlying health conditions.

        The whole doing my bit approach:

        • There has been situations like the West Hoxton party where the only participants fully vaccinated did not contract covid, whereas the other majority unvaccinated participants contracted covid, is there a chance the infection wasnt able to be passed to those people who were vaccinated due to proximity and such, maybe, but its a good sign that the vaccine may have worked, however slight the chance.
        • If it is a marketing campaign to feel noble, is that such a bad thing?
        • I shudder at the thought of the fact that if im not vaccinated, and i need to care for my parents, i could contract covid (which may cause severe illness potentially even though i am healthy & i might infect my parents since i would be more infectious even if they have they have been vaccinated).

        Its about the spread, being vaccination would reduce the spread (however minimal).

        • 

          SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 13:52

          @MJ90s:

          • That random factor should be weighed against any known/unknown complications/adverse reactions/long term side effects with a vaccine. Very difficult to do at this stage, hence the pro-choice movement

          The whole doing my bit approach:
          * A likely clear example of the vaccine working, not refuting that, but did any of those individuals who caught it die? end up in hospital? We don't know. Do all those individuals who caught it and possibly now helping to slow of the spread by having antibodies? Who knows.
          *Yes it might be considered a bad thing when it is pushed adversely onto people. "So you don't care about your family?"

          With the delta variant, it's been acknowledged that herd immunity is not possible, especially at 70-80% of the adult population. The virus will spread regardless unless we're locked up forever.

          Open up, vaccinate the elderly, vulnerable, and those who want it.

          • 

            shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:02

            +1

            @SirSparky: "Open up, vaccinate the elderly, vulnerable, and those who want it."

            • the vulnerable population this time round is actually the entire adult population! (+/- children, but likely them too)
            • some people are more vulnerable than others but all are very viably able to get sick enough to be hospitalised +/- ICU
            • quite right, we can't be locked in forever - there is a time for that, but we are not there yet
  • 

    Stopback on 27/08/2021 - 11:26

    Would you get covid, instead just to get over it. Bug catchign?

    • 

      SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 11:35

      -3

      Well, the chance of catching covid is still very low. Comparatives in the population being:
      - US 10% have caught covid
      - UK 10% have caught covid
      - AU 0.2% have caught covid

      So in the event that we go down a similar path to the UK or US, there's still only 10% chance of catching it at this stage (acknowledging that they have a very highly vaccinated population which increases the odds of unvaccinated catching it, maybe double, who knows), so I wouldn't force it upon myself, but not worried if I do catch it.

      • 

        Stopback on 27/08/2021 - 13:25

        Its about having some antibodies so you dont spread it,

      • 

        johnwinkle on 27/08/2021 - 13:27

        10% is a huge amount? That's 30+ million individual people? AU we make new peaks every day

      • 

        popsiee on 27/08/2021 - 13:30

        +1

        (acknowledging that they have a very highly vaccinated population which increases the odds of unvaccinated catching it, maybe double, who knows)

        Really the dumbest statement on the thread !

        • 

          SirSparky on 27/08/2021 - 13:42

          @popsiee: I highly doubt that.

          That statement acknowledged that an unvaccinated person has a higher chance of catching covid. This was in the context of trying to understand what the odds were of catching it in a country with no restrictions.

          Edit, sorry realised that you may be referring to the fact that I'm assuming that it's now known that vaccinated people can still catch covid. Hence the "who knows" what increased risk that is to people.

    • 

      shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:06

      +1

      I don't think this is a good idea…
      Some people do ok with COVID, some people do miserably. There are people who did miserably in the last round with the original COVID, and many ended up with terrible terrible fibrotic lung disease which will last you …forever.
      Just take a look at poliomyelitis. I think it's clear to see that contracting polio to get over it is a bad idea..

  • 

    cashless on 27/08/2021 - 17:00

    Look forward to hearing your pleading testimony when you get stuck in ICU

• 

  scoobydoobydu on 27/08/2021 - 09:59

  +1

  My wife and I, both in our 30s, are scheduled to get our 1st Pfizer jab this afternoon. We waited and waited because of initial doubts about unknown long term side effects of the vaccines. Here is our thought process on deciding to get the jab:

  1. Risk of catching covid is small (but rising). Risk of severe adverse outcome from catching covid while unvaccinated is low (for our age group).

  2. Risk of severe adverse outcome from vaccine is low (at least in the short term).

  3. Risks of complications from long covid is an unknown at this stage (not enough time has elapsed) but anecdotal reports suggests it is real and potentially serious.

  4. Risk of long term adverse outcome from new mRNA vaccine also unknown (not enough time has elapsed).

  5. Catching covid whilst vaccinated likely reduces risk of adverse outcomes for 1 and 3.

  Given low (but rising) risks for 1, low risk for 2 and uncertainty in respect of 3 and 4, we made our decision based on a risk management approach given the variables and inherent uncertainties at this point in time. Also, our desire to travel once borders re-open and the associated freedoms vaccinated people are likely to enjoy vis-a-vie unvaccinated people was also a factor in our decision. Hope our risk management thought process is helpful to others who may be sitting on the fence.

  • 

    popsiee on 27/08/2021 - 10:08

    Being in Vic biggest concern is judging when to aim to have the double dose finalize for the opening if judge correctly to maximize the efficacy of the vaccine that diminishes in time . No word on third boosters yet so this play has more importance .
    Biggest risk is after judging where to fire there is no vacant spots but based on early going there should be many with the initial rush going on currently clearing the way hopefully for the future . Of course the other obvious risk is catching Covid before the opening comes although a very small % chance .
    Looks like no one in TAS is using my play hehe :)

  • 

    trapper on 27/08/2021 - 11:24

    1. Risk of catching covid is small (but rising)

    This is no longer true. covid is here to stay and everyone will be exposed eventually. Far safer to be vaxed when that happens.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/08/2021 - 11:38

    +1

    Getting vaccinated early wasn't dependent on risk of catching covid. It's when covid inevitably returns like now so we're protected and aren't in a mad scramble to get vaccinated i.e. being proactive than reactive. That's why I got everyone in my family to get vaccinated as soon as they were eligible even when cases were zero for ages because herd immunity is important. That's why despite being in my early 20's, I would have gotten astrazeneca in a heartbeat. I've never heard of long term severe outcomes for the vaccine, I'm not a specialist in the area but I don't see why there would be. It's a different delivery form but it's essentially getting your body to the same thing as any other vaccine which is to be able to produce antibodies. If that was actually a concern for people then maybe Aus should've ordered Sinovac…I think they use traditional vaccine methods, unfortunately it's not very good for delta..or in general. I don't know what insights there are here, getting the vaccine is undoubtedly the best thing you can do if you can and it was the hesitancy that put us where we are now.

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:08

    Yes! Glad to hear you have made that decision, and I think that's a very intelligent way of looking at risk. One thing I will add, is that one's ability to get vaccinated is a lot slower than COVID is spreading in Sydney so if one wishes to make a decision about being vaccinated whilst the disease spreads, one has to act early

• 

  OzHunterNSW on 27/08/2021 - 10:36

  +3

  Are you paid by the govt to be on this site?

  • 

    MessyG on 27/08/2021 - 17:46

    +3

    I highly doubt it. NSW Health are absolutely rabid about doctors on social media and go after them all the time, and threaten their jobs. OP is putting their neck out here.

• 

  Cheer on 27/08/2021 - 10:45

  Sometimes I read these comments and wonder why a Retired doctor would have a different opinion to someone who is on the front line.

  It's like polar opposites, maybe because they are influenced by the data rather than exaggerating what is seen in front of us.

  I would ask you a question about whether you have seen how the hospitals coped during an influenza outbreak compared to now, but you don't have any experience to compare it to.

  • 

    MessyG on 27/08/2021 - 17:55

    +4

    I've done both covid wards and flu season.

    There is no comparison. Flu will take out one or two at a time on a general ward. Covid will take out 10 at a time. And as for ICU - influenza does not fill up the ICU to the point where they have to convert entire ICU wards into flu-ICU. It does not require the opening of field hospitals.

    The main reason is that our immune systems have developed some tolerance to the initial 1918 flu over the last hundred years. Covid has been going for less than 2. In time it should improve with vaccines, but no one knows for sure. And a few years after Spanish flu, there was an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica which killed a lot of people. 100% of them had been infected with Spanish flu prior. No one who never got Spanish flu got that disease.

• 

  ACTGBilly on 27/08/2021 - 11:32

  +1

  Thanks for this. Insightful stuff. All the best

• 

  Dack Smith on 27/08/2021 - 12:13

  Great job you are doing mate, we need more people like you.

  It is so hard to be non judgemental and treat those anti vax morons that end up in ICU - they don’t deserve to live at all….made your bed now live in it.

  Not enough recognition is given to the doctors and nurses that work tirelessly under the worst conditions during this pandemic.

• 

  t_c on 27/08/2021 - 12:16

  +3

  Just got the 2nd jab today, no side effects at all, just a really strong desire to vote 1 for Xi Jinping at the next election.

• 

  FoxJump on 27/08/2021 - 12:33

  So the wife got her AZ early Aug … one the one hand they used to say to get the second shot in 12 weeks. But now Gladys says to get it in 4 weeks.
  Her 4 weeks are up.
  if she gets it now … can she just casually walk by a pharmacy and get herself a booster shot at 12 weeks later (so total 16 weeks) or .. is that a no no?
  afaik AZ are super available so .. it should be okay right?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:10

    +1

    I don't know, that's something which you'd have to look up. Alternatively a quick call to the public health unit should be able to get you that answer

• 

  BaronX on 27/08/2021 - 13:20

  +2

  As per the Australian Government's Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN) website https://www.tga.gov.au/database-adverse-event-notifications-…
  the PFIZER vaccine 'COMIRNATY BNT162b2 (mRNA)' has resulted in 18,363 suspected cases of adverse events & 171 deaths.
  In comparison, the 'Infanrix HEXA' vaccine that is widely given to everyone including kids has only resulted in 5,942 suspected cases of adverse events and only 10 deaths.

  I understand you work in the COVID ICU, but would you know if the hospitals have seen a rise in walk-ins from the side effects? and as a doctor, what's your opinion on the substantial cases of side effects?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:15

    No I do not know - and if someone has a suspected side effect, they would present to their GP or ED. I'm not at all familiar or involved with the process of reporting or investigations of adverse events. I imagine these cases are investigated as to how likely they can be attributed to the vaccine and then health advice changes if needed.

    • 

      Orico on 27/08/2021 - 16:51

      +1

      I'll handle that part of the question because I work with the TGA.

  • 

    Orico on 27/08/2021 - 16:50

    +1

    As per the Australian Government's Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN) website https://www.tga.gov.au/database-adverse-event-notifications-…
    the PFIZER vaccine 'COMIRNATY BNT162b2 (mRNA)' has resulted in 18,363 suspected cases of adverse events & 171 deaths.

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ………………………….

    That's not how you interpret the adverse events notifications. They didn't die from immunisation! Death is coincidental in all those cases! Even if the patient experiences a minor itch in their butt, their GP or the lead researcher has to count it as an adverse event. You will be surprised when you find out why they actually died. Most of the time it's just natural causes.

    According to the TGA's vaccine safety reports, as mentioned above, there have been no confirmed deaths linked to the Pfizer vaccine in Australia.
    https://www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safe…

    The administration has noted, however, that as of August 22 it had received "235 reports of suspected myocarditis [inflammation of the heart muscle] and/or pericarditis [inflammation of the membrane around the heart] following vaccination" with the Pfizer vaccine.

    "These reports reflect the observations of the people reporting them and have not been confirmed as having been caused by the vaccine," the latest vaccine safety report states. "Some events may be coincidental and would have happened anyway, regardless of vaccination."

    what's your opinion on the substantial cases of side effects?

    There's no correlation between vaccine, adverse events and subsequent death in the Comirnaty vaccine. The difference here is the Pfizer vaccine is being given out to millions with two doses. The Pfizer Vaccine is also an mRNA vaccine that triggers a different immune response to an inactivated viral vector or toxoids. The body's immune signalling is different and many common viruses are strongly linked to cardiac inflammation. Many of those inactivated bacterial toxins in that vaccine you speak of are also not given as one injection. Sometimes it's split up and that was the case in the past.

    • 

      BaronX on 27/08/2021 - 18:35

      As per the TGA Database, the 'Infanrix HEXA' vaccine that is widely given to everyone including kids has only seen 5,942 suspected cases of adverse events and only 10 deaths in all these years.
      So based on your comment above, none of these people (apart from 5,952) have had any coincidental itchy bum, fever, other side effects or deaths since receiving the vaccine!

      • 

        Orico on 27/08/2021 - 18:42

        +1

        So based on your comment above, none of these people (apart from 5,952) have had any coincidental itchy bum, fever, other side effects or deaths since receiving the vaccine!

        Bro you're comparing a polymeric molecule to a completely different vaccine technology. We have been using these toxoids for decades. mRNA vaccines have only just come to prominence in the last 20 years with the advancement of molecular biology and genetics but they're highly effective and don't have any issues like clotting. The heart inflammation is quite mild too and easily treatable. TTS (the blood clotting syndrome) is treatable only in modern health systems like Australia.

        the 'Infanrix HEXA' vaccine that is widely given to everyone including kids has only seen 5,942 suspected cases

        Kids are generally a healthy bunch. The side effects of vaccines given primarily to older people (40+) will always give greater amount and more severe side effects due to their age, underlying conditions and not to mention that they're far more likely to be on medication.

        This is a case of Apples and Oranges.

• 

  compugrid on 27/08/2021 - 14:19

  I am fully vaccinated. Thanks for doing AMA
  Do you have statistics how many people got infected by covid-19 who are vaccinated vs those who are not?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:18

    Glad to hear it!
    I don't. The information which is readily available and probably most important, is ICU admissions.
    The NSW press conference tells you each day how many inside our ICUs, and how many are unvaccinated.

• 

  WT on 27/08/2021 - 14:52

  Have you been briefed for when the poop hits the fan? Pop up tent hospitals like what they had in NYC and china?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 16:19

    I have not myself, but I'm pretty junior. My bosses might know, but I will leave that information to them for now, and they can let us know when and what we need to do when the time is approaching

• 

  dvd107 on 27/08/2021 - 16:35

  1. Do you guys check for Vitamin D / Zinc in COVID patients and are levels lower in those admitted in ICU? Are there any general observations?

  2. Current stats suggest the admission rate to ICU is approximately 1% and hospitalization at approximately 5% (https://covidlive.com.au/nsw)
     -Are you concerned that with ~10 daily ICU admission (assume 1000 cases per day), NSW will soon run out of beds/nurses/doctors to run these beds?
     -ICU is pretty much full on a "normal" non-covid day. With one disease taking up a majority of ICU beds, surely other patients who need ICU beds (e.g. AMI / Road trauma) will find themselves unable to get a bed soon.

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 20:04

    1. These are not bloods which I have checked for ICU patients - I don't have the evidence on this, but I would have doubts that replacing these in the acute phase of an ICU admission would be of much benefit

    2. Wow what an excellent resource, I haven't seen that before. Yeah - that is the concern, widely discussed at media conferences. With so many staff and beds dedicated to COVID, you are quite right that this places pressure on not only COVID services but also care of non-COVID illnesses

• 

  inittobinit on 27/08/2021 - 17:02

  Bit of a morbid question.

  Do you believe a system where people who do not conform to the health advice (i.e not wearing a mask, not social distancing, not staying at home) are black-listed and given low priority to receive medical care in ICU would assist non-conformers to adhere to the health advice?

  My thoughts are it would encourage people through fear of repercussions of their own actions, similar in a way to how people are being encouraged to be vaccinated through FOMO on freedoms granted only to the fully vaccinated.

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 20:06

    That's a question for ethicists, and I don't think there is an answer which will lead to good outcomes. I honestly don't know.

  • 

    Dotaguy on 27/08/2021 - 21:30

    +1

    That's kind of disgusting, imagine telling fat people they'll be low on the priority list because they chose to eat more.
    Or smokers that they're lower on the list because they choose to smoke.

    Seriously this stuff has caused people to lose their humanity.

    • 

      drfuzzy on 27/08/2021 - 22:56

      We penalise smokers through restrictive rules and through heavy taxation on tobacco.
      We penalise alcohol consumers through taxation and social intoxication rules.
      We penalise obese people by declining them from certain surgeries, by design (airline seats, wheelchairs, etc), amongst other ways.

      • 

        RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 00:54

        Now think about how they're going to penalise people for not taking this vaccine.

        • 

          inittobinit on 28/08/2021 - 08:03

          @RocketSwitch: You don't get as many freedoms as people who are, doesn't seem that unreasonable to me given the numbers of people in ICU who are unvaccinated vs fully vaccinated

          • 

            RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 08:14

            @inittobinit: But for a period of time, you have the same viral load as someone who is unvaccinated.

            Getting vaccinated doesn't mean you automatically skip ICU!!

            You're still a risk and it's still a violation of human rights.

            Until the vaccine 100% stops transmission and a trip to the ICU, it's discrimination!!

            • 

              Yamun121 on 28/08/2021 - 09:44

              @RocketSwitch: Hi, doctor here, can you explain your understanding of viral load in this context?

      • 

        Dotaguy on 28/08/2021 - 03:54

        Ok, so increase the health insurance premiums on people who don’t take vax. This is not the same as what Op is suggesting here, which is to “black list” people in response to not following crap public health advice from incompetents like Brett Sutton .

        Preferably everyone gets the jab, gets multiple jabs of whatever vaccine or improved vaccine comes out but the idea that people even remotely think the way op does disturbs me

        • 

          RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 08:16

          @Dotaguy: What's the penalty for vaccinated causing mutations, spreading the virus etc since it's not 100%?

          Can't make up blanket rules where the vaccinated can also caused the same problems. Don't give me the less likely stats, because less likely isn't 100%.

          That's why these stupid rules shouldn't exist.

          • 

            Dotaguy on 28/08/2021 - 10:20

            +2

            @RocketSwitch: You mean vaccines cause mutations? I don’t know, I’ve considered that risk for myself.

            My preference is vaccines over lockdowns, I also haven’t said I think everyone must get a vaccine. I think people need to be responsible for their own health, so it should be a personal decision.

            Lockdowns and politicians are dumb - we agree.

    • 

      inittobinit on 28/08/2021 - 08:02

      How is it disgusting exactly? To punish people who break the rules?

      Is imprisoning someone who kills people disgusting?

      • 

        RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 08:17

        What if the vaccinated killed someone? What then?

        Or is that okay for you?

        Since you're allowed all these freedoms, you will be the most likely to spread it.

        • 

          inittobinit on 28/08/2021 - 08:30

          @RocketSwitch: Doesn't make a difference if they're vaccinated or not. If they were not following the health advice (i.e in the community for non-permitted reasons, outside their 5k bubble), then they are in contravention of the rules.

          I think you're missing the point, the question was would this in isolation benefit the level of conformance to the rules.

        • 

          Yamun121 on 28/08/2021 - 09:43

          @RocketSwitch: Does a seatbelt 100% guarantee to save your life?

      • 

        Dotaguy on 28/08/2021 - 10:18

        +1

        The problem is you’re equating not following “rules”, or dumb public health laws made up on the fly which change week to week to killing someone.

        It’s a huge leap to go from, x person in some part of Melbourne didn’t wear a mask, and then y person in another part of Melbourne dies because of covid or whatever else. We have laws from man slaughter, all the way up to murder which already cover instances where someone kills someone deliberately, callously or however else. These are plainly not the same thing.

        What is sad is when people start to lose this sense of perspective and start saying things like this - if someone not wearing a mask is sufficient to warrant responsibility for killing someone then where does the line get drawn for any other “crime”. There are different contexts but the principle of outcome and causation is the same.

        I’m saying that there’s a serious loss of humanity and empathy here, which when I look at the society we live in now - yes it is disgusting.

        • 

          RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 10:52

          @Dotaguy: Your last paragraph perfectly sums all this up. I'm not sure if this situation created it, I believe it was always there. It's really heartbreaking.

  • 

    Gravy on 27/08/2021 - 23:35

    I'm not sure that pushing them down the treatment priority list would actually do much to encourage people to vaccinate, as the majority of vaccine hesitant/resistant people probably feel they wont end up in hospital anyway. It may work for some depending on their reasoning, but yeah it is a pretty extreme method.

    • 

      inittobinit on 28/08/2021 - 08:04

      They idea is not to encourage them to vaccinate specifically, it is to encourage them to follow the health advice at large (stay home, wear a mask etc).

• 

  sarahlump on 27/08/2021 - 17:41

  if you could save a picture of a magestic range of q waves on an ecg that resemble a mountain range…which mountain range and why?

• 

  Spets on 27/08/2021 - 17:53

  +1

  Imagine if we had the same amount of effort put in promoting good health habits: eating good food, exercise etc.
  I think anyone still terrified of this virus but waddling around obese should have a good look at themselves.

  • 

    pch2966 on 28/08/2021 - 01:39

    An overwhelming majority (78%) of people who have been hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 have been overweight or obese as per the CDC.

    • 

      hangdog on 28/08/2021 - 11:11

      Something over 70% of US adults are overweight anyway. We know that being overweight makes people more susceptible to a range of ailments, and that efforts to promote good health habits have been going on for decades, but not really working to change the trend.

• 

  the fig man on 27/08/2021 - 18:19

  Sorry if this was asked before.

  Is there any detriment in waiting 6 weeks for second dose of Pfizer (instead of getting it bang on 3 week mark) ?

  • 

    popsiee on 27/08/2021 - 18:37

    +1

    When I booked the 2nd dose there was no choice but around 6 weeks . The govt wants to spread it around to more people .
    I know 3 weeks is the perfect spot and gradually a little more ineffective till last spot of 6 weeks .
    After that you are wasting time .

  • 

    GourmetFoodie on 27/08/2021 - 19:30

    +1

    Oxford study actually says 8 weeks is the sweet spot now. Google it

    • 

      the fig man on 27/08/2021 - 21:53

      Interesting. Some even suggest 10 weeks after first dose realises higher antibody levels and T cell count.

    • 

      Gravy on 27/08/2021 - 23:37

      For astra or pfizer?

      • 

        the fig man on 28/08/2021 - 12:06

        Article only mentioned AZ.

• 

  MagicMushroom on 27/08/2021 - 19:26

  How many hours do you work every week?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 20:06

    Currently, it's shift work, so it works out to be 40. Half of them are night shifts.

• 

  GourmetFoodie on 27/08/2021 - 19:32

  Thank you for your service mate!

  Now for my Q-
  Do you have access to any monoclonal antibodies eg. sotrovimab for treating people or any comments on this as a form of treatment?

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 20:07

    I do not, and I do not comment on novel drugs here as I am not versed in the research

• 

  scottySK on 27/08/2021 - 19:44

  Why is it impossible to get Pfizer jab in Penrith? Nothing available for months

  • 

    shatter on 27/08/2021 - 20:09

    I was under the impression that Penrith was an LGA of concern and got priority vaccinations (if aged 16-39)?
    https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/covid-1…

    • 

      scottySK on 27/08/2021 - 21:51

      Yeah but everything is booked out for months. They built an immunisation centre at panthers and you can't get a booking…

    • 

      scottySK on 27/08/2021 - 22:08

      I checked again. The page you linked literally says no appointments available (scroll down to Penrith)

• User123321 on 27/08/2021 - 20:21 Comment score below threshold.
  • 

    pulpfiction on 27/08/2021 - 21:10

    Yes! I love this guy!

    The best bit about this hoax is very other secret in politics gets out once about 3 people find out. These millions of COVID proponents are tricky secretive bastards. I should know, married to one of the meds dealing with this and she still spreads her COVID believer bullshit.

    OP, did the lizard people put you to this? No lies now!

• 

  drfuzzy on 27/08/2021 - 20:47

  +3

  I'm a doctor who works in immunology and drug safety.
  I have wondered the same questions.
  I think there are many factors for vaccine hesitancy.
  - people often do not have the capability and/or capacity to balance benefit and risk in their healthcare choices
  - people are inundated by contradictory information from peers, politicians, news and more.
  - people generally do not understand exponential growth as we are more familiar with linear relationships. Hence I hear people say that they don't see COVID in their circle of friends therefore it doesn't exist or is nothing to worry about.
  - fear of the unknown is sometimes greater than fear of the known (COVID).
  - the negatives of vaccination have been widely publicised, but I've read very little in the media about long term negatives of COVID such as long COVID syndrome or the hundreds of patients who have undergone lung transplant post COVID.

  • 

    pulpfiction on 27/08/2021 - 21:18

    I feel like your last point is key. Random influencers with zero education / experience have huge weight on people’s opinions. You see the same things for surviving plane crashes, dieting etc.

    It also captures the attention of people who have the time to fixate on this stuff. Obsessing over it o a point where it becomes a matter of their opinion being more important than reality or reasoning.

  • 

    Dotaguy on 27/08/2021 - 21:44

    1. Not every decision is a cost benefit analysis. Just because something is on paper better than another decision does not mean that people will make such as decision - humans aren't rational. Smokers know that smoking is stupid, doesn't mean they balance the risk.

    2. This is true. Also, doctors and science is subject to contradictory too. There is no such thing as absolutes in the current environment. Science is only as good as the hypothesis, it's a process and often will contradict itself.

    3. Don't know if there's a point to agree or disagree with here - it's an anecdote.

    4. Both covid and the vaccine impacts are generally unknown. Covid has been around for 2 years or so, the vaccine under one. We know covid kills, spreads. We also don't know the long term impacts of these idiotic public health restrictions, from a political, social, economic, and physical/mental health perspective.

    5. Genunely intereste in the last point, couldn't find much about it on a google search and certainly this isn't in the hundreds in Australia. If it's hundreds, in the entire world of the millions of covid cases to date then I suppose it could be just as a rare as the blood clotting.

    • 

      drfuzzy on 27/08/2021 - 22:47

      The comment about a small number of people post COVID undergoing lung transplant is not something I'd read either. I was on a call with a lung transplant surgeon in the USA recently and he was explaining there had been over 100 people across the USA who underwent lung transplant due to COVID.

      • 

        RocketSwitch on 28/08/2021 - 00:59

        And then you read on Twitter doctors seeing an increase in people with heart inflammation and blood clots. You don't hear about it or know if it's true. You have other doctors saying ICU is filled with unvaccinated people who have COVID and another doctor saying to him, I work there, we had 2.

        The propaganda of this machine has no end. There is no transparency anywhere.

    • 

      belongsinforums on 28/08/2021 - 00:14

      My friend's dad went into icu from covid. Wouldn't risk it. But you do you

      • 

        Dotaguy on 28/08/2021 - 03:58

        +1

        I got vaccinated, it’s not a big deal but that doesn’t detract from my point- people aren’t rational and neither are health decisions all the time. People need to stop equating this to immorality

• 

  Ronerrlaw on 27/08/2021 - 22:09

  +1

  How much do you make a year?

• 

  PaperplaneXXX on 27/08/2021 - 22:26

  +1

  what is the COVID protocol at the Hospital?

  can you have Ivermectin
  or a protocol Zinc+Azytromycin + Plaquienil?

  they don't treat COVID at all with any options?
  so for the patient there is no choice? just wait and die ….

  there has to be an official protocol in Australian Hospitals

  • 

    mdavant on 28/08/2021 - 05:06

    I am sure they would be practising evidence based medicine

• 

  windrc on 28/08/2021 - 00:15

  what kind of PPEs do you wear inside a covid icu ward? eg. respirator suit?

• 

  screensaver on 28/08/2021 - 00:51

  I am interested in antivirals and fight the flu each time with them. One of them is olive leaf extract, its an anti viral, anti bacterial and anti oxidant, and antil fungal. I have the high strength capsules. here. Today I had a sore finger from a broken nail, took one capsule and its fine now. My point is, if I do get the virus I will use these for sure. And i would take more than one dose as any virus keeps repllicating. And it may not work at all. I hope you guys get to do a study on it, maybe in a lab.

  • 

    Ughhh on 28/08/2021 - 10:28

    Today I had a sore finger from a broken nail,

    Me too!

    took one capsule and its fine now.

    Though I took nothing its fine now.

    I hear Jilly Juice can grow back limbs!!!!

    • 

      screensaver on 28/08/2021 - 10:46

      well mine wasnt getting better and required intervention, either antibiotics or painting with betadine or something, but I chose the olive leaf capsule, which worked . So there, Einstein

• 

  pch2966 on 28/08/2021 - 01:33

  Hey Doc thanks for coming on here. My question is why is there no treatment at all being offered by NSW Health for people at home. I rang and asked a local health area and they said all they do is ring once a day if possible to check in. I find that totally unacceptable that they allow people to sit at home, knowing that people can deteriorate quickly. In a modern healthcare system this is unacceptable especially now that we are seeing more people dying at home. There are proven treatments being used overseas which include steroids like Budesonide and of course let's not mention the "I" word. Doctors have used drugs off label forever and I cannot understand why Drs don't treat people with protocols that have been published and work. They work because they have been implemented in the real world with proven results by real Drs. How can a modern healthcare system just allow a patient to stay at home, deteriorate with increased viral load and then infect others in the family. I hate how healthcare has become politicised and there are arses on both sides, the anti-vaxxers who think they will become 5G repeaters and the self righteous vaxholes who think the unvaccinated are human biological weapons out to kill them. We have lost perspective during this pandemic and when you look at the numbers less than 20 Australians under 50 have been killed by Covid during the entire pandemic. Doc have you ever used Sotrivomab now that is has been approved by the TGA for treatment and why isn't it offered to outpatients? Oh and finally those people on here that are advocated that unvaccinated people be treated like lepers and second class citizens, even denying them healthcare you are abhorrent disgusting individuals that should understand that the pandemic will end, as will your temporary feeling of virtue, but people won't forget how you mistreated and abandoned them apparently for the greater good.

  Look forward to your response Doc (about the medical questions)

• 

  screensaver on 28/08/2021 - 02:45

  Heres one here, of what I was talking about, it doesnt say if it started https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04873349

• 

  zombie hunter on 28/08/2021 - 06:26

  How about a poll to see how many ozbargainers are pro and who are anti vax

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7