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More on MMR immunisation in Scotland – latest research

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By stewartb Let me share some other positive insights on MMR immunisation, this time from a recent peer reviewed research paper: Source: McQuaid F, Mulholland R, Sangpang Rai Y, Agrawal U, Bedford H, Cameron JC, et al. (2022) Uptake of infant and preschool immunisations in Scotland and England during the COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study of routinely collected data. PLoS Med 19(2): e1003916. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003916 ‘We found that early uptake of infant and preschool immunisations (within 4 weeks of a child becoming eligible) ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE FIRST LOCKDOWN PERIOD IN SCOTLAND, RESULTING IN THOUSANDS MORE CHILDREN RECEIVING THEIR … Continue reading More on MMR immunisation in Scotland – latest research

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Measles outbreak – Surely the Herald would not cherry pick dates?

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By stewartb The absence of news coverage of measles from a Scotland perspective in the relevant section of the BBC News website is worthy of note. After all, BBC Scotland supposedly provides a public service and arguably, issues of public health relevant to children merit greater attention. BBC Scotland COULD communicate the significance of Scotland’s relatively high rate of MMR vaccine take-up and provide evidence – for context and perspective – which would encourage even higher levels. It’s not as if BBC Scotland has always been ‘disinterested’! From its News website dated 25 June 2019 we find this headline: ‘MMR … Continue reading Measles outbreak – Surely the Herald would not cherry pick dates?

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Deleted WhatsApp messages – ‘Don’t swallow the state-sponsored propaganda spin of half truths and innuendo!!’

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Thanks to Morag Giblin for sharing this with me and to Lorraine from Blackburn, West Lothian. Lorraine writes in Facebook: Don’t swallow the state sponsored propaganda spin of half truths and innuendo!!! – Yes ‘Whatsapp’ messages were deleted, but that is only half the story, spun to make it look as sinister in Scotland as it was in England. THERE IS NO COMPARISON! The First minister has already stated previously that the Scottish Government do not habitually use that or any other non-approved app. They follow the traditional rule of thumb (it works) – those who are in a habit … Continue reading Deleted WhatsApp messages – ‘Don’t swallow the state-sponsored propaganda spin of half truths and innuendo!!’

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SHOCK as England is gonorrhoea capital of Europe!

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In the Guardian today: The gonorrhoea diagnosis rate for England had risen from 80.6 per 100,000 people in 2017 to 146.1 per 100,000 people in 2022. The EU average is only 13.7 but that conceals Denmark at 48.3, Luxembourg at 65.7 and the Netherland’s suspicious absence from the survey. Scotland? 103. Yes, I know, second-worst in Europe but England is 40% higher! Surely that’s a story like….you know….those drug deaths. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/20/gonorrhoea-found-to-be-on-rise-in-nearly-every-council-area-in-england-and-wales https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/gonorrhoea-annual-epidemiological-report-2021#:~:text=In%202021%2C%2027%20EU%2FEEA,considerably%20across%20the%20EU%2FEEA. https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/gonorrhoea-infection-in-scotland/gonorrhoea-infection-in-scotland/#:~:text=Main%20points,diagnoses%20in%20women%20(1%2C822). Continue reading SHOCK as England is gonorrhoea capital of Europe!

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Scotland’s ‘safest in UK’ measles vaccination rates not worth comparing in the media unlike drug deaths

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The Guardian today has: UK measles outbreaks: why are cases rising and vaccination rates falling? BBC London has: Mum urges vaccine push and shares how son died after catching measles The UK Mail has: UK GRIPPED BY MEASLES CRISIS The Mail in Scotland has only WhatsApp cover-ups and BBC Scotland focus on the same plus catching up on Michelle Mone. What is the actual situation in Scotland with regard to measles vaccination rates compared to rUK figures? Well it’s pretty newsworthy you’d think. Typically in the West Midlands, they’d see no cases but in the last month they’ve had 50! … Continue reading Scotland’s ‘safest in UK’ measles vaccination rates not worth comparing in the media unlike drug deaths

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Reasons to be cheerful – how things overall are improving

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It wasn’t the above Bob who wrote Don’t Worry, Be Happy. It was Bobby McFerrin in 1988. The now very popular statistician Hans Rosling might have disagreed back then but it makes a bit more sense today. I’ve kind of been aware of the self-described ‘possibilist’ not ‘optimist’, Rosling, but have only just read the book: In it, there are these, counter-intuitive, for many even today six years later, graphs: How about some bad things decreasing in Scotland? Crime Road traffic accidents Drug deaths, even! Good things increasing in Scotland? Affordable housing. Woodland creation. I could go on. Continue reading Reasons to be cheerful – how things overall are improving

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The Campaign to blame the SNP for Covid deaths contrary to the facts is underway

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When the otherwise excellent Open Democracy seems to have swallowed the myth, much loved by Anas Sarwar, that Covid 19 deaths in care homes were the result of hospital discharges of untested patients into them, you know the campaign to turn around the story of Scotland’s better pandemic performance, is well on the way. Yesterday, they had: Care home deaths soared as Holyrood took two months to introduce testing for outgoing hospital patients, inquiry hears. Donald Macaskill, the chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents the country’s independent social care sector, said he warned the then-secretary for health and sport, … Continue reading The Campaign to blame the SNP for Covid deaths contrary to the facts is underway

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Yousaf accused of shaking hands with elected leader of a democracy!

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‘Humza Yousaf has invited the hugely controversial President of Turkey to Scotland, The Herald can reveal.’ TuS can now reveal that he seems to be the only leader in UK history to prefer shaking hands with democrats. See these: Blair and Gadaffi, after he [Gadaffi!] orders the killing of hundreds in Scotland. Thatcher and Pinochet, responsible for thousands of deaths among the democratic opposition in Chile. He’s pointing to a good site for Thatcher to intern lefties like Michael Foot. The Queen and the leader of the IRA in Northern Ireland, responsible for the deaths of many of her ‘servants.’ … Continue reading Yousaf accused of shaking hands with elected leader of a democracy!

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Misleading the public on hospital operations in Scotland for cheap political gain

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In the Herald’s health newsletter and big on their website, today: It is fairly obvious that clearing the elective waiting list backlog depends on ramping up the number of patients getting into theatre for surgery. Yet the results of a new workforce survey, published today, highlight that a lack of available theatre spaces is (alongside stress and burnout) the number one gripe for the nation’s surgeons. Indeed, the most recent available data for Scotland illustrates just how much patient turnover continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. As of November 2023, a total of 25,922 operations were scheduled for theatre in … Continue reading Misleading the public on hospital operations in Scotland for cheap political gain

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Ferry operator to be prosecuted after 800 passengers drift toward rocks near Wellington

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From the NZ Herald, yesterday: KiwiRail will face court after an Interislander ferry lost power and issued a mayday call while near Wellington’s south coast in January last year. Maritime New Zealand today confirmed it has filed a single charge against KiwiRail under the Health and Safety at Work Act, after an investigation into procedures around safety and maintenance. The Kaitaki had more than 800 people on board for its 2.15pm sailing to Wellington on January 28 last year. Shortly before 5pm, the ship reported engine problems. Ten minutes later, it issued a mayday call after all four engines shut down amid … Continue reading Ferry operator to be prosecuted after 800 passengers drift toward rocks near Wellington