Living on Plague Island

A personal evidence based perspective on living in the UK with a clinically vulnerable household member during a period when we are meant to be 'living with the virus'.

The Definitive Evidence: Good Quality Masks work

On 22 May 2024 Professor Trisha Greenhalgh and colleagues published their awaited narrative review and meta-analysis summarizing a broad evidence base on the benefits—and also the practicalities, disbenefits, harms and personal, sociocultural and environmental impacts—of masks and masking.  This surely lays the debate to rest and is a basis for clear policy measures and further research agendas.

Findings

I am grateful to Trisha for the following slides.

Firstly:

Secondly:

Thirdly:

Fourthly:

Fifthly:

And finally:

Concluding comments

We shall see how this research is received over the coming days and weeks, but it is a real glimmer of hope for clinically vulnerable families and has the potential to lead to meaningful policy and communication changes that would reduce the incidence of Covid, and an end to the kind of abuse we face as discussed in my recent blog. The findings are discussed further in a piece in the Conversation.

Unfortunately, this publication has landed on a big news day in the UK as speculation mounts that the PM is about to call a general election. However, on the positive side, my assessment is we will only make progress in finally tackling Covid-19 and improving the lives of the clinically vulnerable if there is a change of government.

Gillian Smith 22 May 2024

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I am a semi retired social researcher having previously worked as an analyst across several UK Whitehall Departments for many years. I live in a London suburb with my husband who is clinically vulnerable and a black cat.

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GILLIAN SMITH About Me

I am a semi retired social researcher and have previously held a number of senior social research positions in Whitehall Departments. See an interview with me here. I live in a London suburb with my husband who has suffered multiple serious illnesses over the last few years. I myself am living with MND.

This series of blogs represent a personal, evidence based perspective based on living in the UK at a time when we are all meant to be ‘living with COVID’. Although I am a social scientist by training, I have worked closely with people from different disciplines throughout my career in order to present a complete picture of the evidence on specific policy issues. I am therefore scientifically literate but where I quote evidence based on research beyond my particular expertise it is always validated with relevant experts. I am a member of the Clinically Vulnerable Families group, though please note that the information presented here and any views expressed are my own. We are a friendly, supportive group and can be found via Facebook in private mode or in public mode via X (formerly twitter) Or BlueSky.Social

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