What exactly is herd immunity? How can we be sure that the vaccine companies aren’t lying to us? What is this ‘R0’ value and why does it matter? What are the proven methods to stop outbreaks? Are what are some reasons for hope?
These are just some of the topics I cover on today’s podcast with Colin Furness, PhD, a epidemiologist at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
Given the amount of deliberate disinformation and malicious misinformation going around please, please, please share this episode with someone who’s on the fence about who to believe during the pandemic.
Epidemiology 101, with Colin Furness, PhD (Video Format)
Some highlights include…
01:09 – Colin Furness background and qualifications
02:53 – Why should we believe information coming from the big pharmaceutical companies?
7:03 – Comparing risks of getting vaccinated vs the risks of getting covid
16:12 – What is ‘herd immunity’ and how does it to vaccination rates
20:19 – The effective reproduction number of a number
23:51 – Do we really need lockdowns?
26:15 – Intermediate measures like mask wearing, social distancing and maximum occupancy rule
41:41 – Possible time frame for global herd immunity
45:08 – How to find Colin
Epidemiology 101, with Colin Furness, PhD (Audio Format)
This interview was published as episode 322 of The Strenuous Life Podcast. You can also listen to the audio-only format of the episode on your podcast player.
It’s on all major podcast platforms, but here are some of the links to get you started…
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Spotify Podcasts
- Stitcher,
- And most other podcast players
Or if you want to stay on this page please use the embedded audio player below…
More Colin Furness, Epidemiology, and Dealing with Covid-19 in a Martial Arts Context
Follow Colin on Twitter at @FurnessColin
Here’s episode 302 of the podcast with epidemiologists Kathrine Wallace and Madeline Lewis in which we examine many of the myths and misinformation around Covid-19.
Here’s my in-depth discussion with Dr Nicholas Tyau (who is also a BJJ black belt) about 5 criteria you might want to include in deciding whether and how you’re going to train martial arts after getting vaccinated (ep 285).
Here’s my series of discussions with Dr Chris Moriarty, another BJJ black belt, including a set of suggested guidelines for operating a BJJ school safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thank you, and take care of each other,
Stephan Kesting