I know, I shouldn’t be writing about Covid again. They (the political knaves in charge) would like to replay 2020 and 2021. Couldn’t help it. Last week it was Henry Ergas, today it was Covid-hysteric Greg Sheridan who riled me.
Apparently, a Sharon Lewis, head of the Doherty Institute, told him that “75 percent of those who died from Covid this year did not have their third dose of vaccine.” Then Catherine Bennett professor of epidemiology at Deakin University told him that “only 3 percent of deaths come from people who had the winter booster, that is, the fourth dose of the vaccine at the beginning of winter.”
First, why doesn’t Sheridan do some research rather than rely on hearsay? Why doesn’t he look at the statistics? If necessary, query the various health departments to get data? Instead, he does what? Talk to people he finds in the phone book. His mates. Sundry so-called experts?
Omicron he avers, with the authority of a foreign-affairs journalist, “would still be deadly for an unvaccinated population.” Why moonlight as a public-health expert? Why doesn’t he stick to foreign affairs? Is multitasking required by his employers?
I looked at the latest NSW Covid surveillance report for week ending 7 July. You know, to get some data. A total of 666 people were admitted to hospital with Covid during the week. Of these the vaccination status of 159 was unknown. Zero of those admitted were known to be unvaccinated. Yes, zero. Those with three or four doses numbered 363. How can that possibly be Greg?
Those admitted to ICUs numbered 52. Of these 26 had three or more doses; and 15 two doses. Just one had no dose. How can that be Greg?
Of those who died during the week, 77 out of a total of 116 had three or more doses. Now 19 had no dose. Which on its face seems anomalously high when compared with the much fewer number entering ICUs during the week in question? Even so, the vast majority of those who died (80%+) had two or more doses. How can that be Greg?
I was going to compare the NSW figures with comparable figures for the UK. But the UK Health Security Agency no longer publishes a table of hospital admissions and deaths by vaccination status. I wonder why not? I suppose the plebs would get the wrong idea.
Journalism is dead.
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