Here’s the proof anti-vaxxers have got it wrong – it’s NOT the Covid jab making people ill, says PROFESSOR ROB GALLOWAY

Is Long COVID Fueling Britain’s Sickness Crisis?

A wave of long-term health issues is surging through the United Kingdom, and experts are pointing fingers at a culprit closer to home than most might expect: COVID-19.

Recent figures paint a grim picture. The Office for National Statistics disclosed that almost 40% of working-age adults in the UK live with at least one long-term health condition, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels. More alarmingly, over 2.5 million people are unable to work due to long-term illness, a number that has inflated by over 400,000 since the pandemic began.

While unhealthy lifestyles are certainly a contributing factor, a new study sheds light on a potentially more insidious threat: Long COVID, a condition that can trigger an array of long-term health problems, even after a mild initial infection.

"I know plenty of people believe vaccines are the root cause of this health crisis," Dr. Rob Galloway, a surgeon and prominent voice on the topic, began. "I get a lot of pushback and even threats on social media when I speak about the benefits of vaccination."

He understands the mistrust surrounding drug companies and vaccines, acknowledging the initial disappointment that vaccines didn’t completely prevent COVID-19 infection. But, he insists, "the results of a new study finally put that argument to bed."

Published in the prestigious JAMA Dermatology journal, the study followed the medical records of over six million South Korean individuals – half of whom had contracted COVID-19 before October 2020, a period when not everyone had access to vaccinations. The findings were nothing short of remarkable.

Those who had experienced COVID-19 had a 35% higher chance of developing Crohn’s disease, a 15% increased risk for ulcerative colitis, a 9% rise in rheumatoid arthritis, and an 11% increase in ankylosing spondylitis. Further, individuals who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19 were at even greater risk for these autoimmune disorders later in life.

Perhaps even more concerning, the study uncovered a distinct correlation between vaccination status and the risk of developing autoimmune conditions after COVID-19 infection.

"This innocuous-looking table compared the risks of getting an autoimmune condition if you had COVID-19 in people who had the full vaccine course, an incomplete vaccination course, and no vaccination," Dr. Galloway explained, referencing an omitted table within the study.

"The results were startling. For example, overall there was a 13% increased risk of developing Sjögren’s syndrome after having COVID-19. But if you were unvaccinated and developed COVID-19, you had a 76% increased risk of Sjögren’s." This trend continued across the board, with unvaccinated individuals presenting significantly higher risks of developing other autoimmune disorders, compared to those who were fully vaccinated.

"The researchers concluded that the results ‘may provide evidence to support the hypothesis that COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent autoimmune diseases’," Dr. Galloway summarizes. "No one wants to inject a vaccine into their body, especially one without long-term safety data. But what we know for sure is that COVID-19 vaccines have not worsened health; in actuality, they’ve mitigated a much larger health crisis."

Dr. Galloway, drawing on his own experience as a Crohn’s disease patient, personally advocates for the vaccine and mask-wearing in high-risk environments.

"And if the evidence changes, so will my opinion and you’ll be the first to know. That’s not zealotry," he emphasizes, “that’s putting patient welfare above all else.”

Scientists are sounding the alarm on long COVID, showcasing its potential to trigger autoimmune illnesses.

A Shadow Over Weight Loss Drugs

In a separate development, Dr. Galloway expressed concerns regarding the rapid adoption of new weight-loss medications. While acknowledging the challenges of obesity and the limitations of traditional diets, he cautioned against over-relying on pharmaceutical solutions.

Following the recent death of a British woman, Susan McGowan, potentially linked to the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, and reports of 274 hospitalizations and nearly 15,000 adverse reactions attributed to these drugs, he urges caution.

"Being very overweight or obese is dangerous, and most diets fail," Dr. Galloway acknowledged. "So, there is a place for these drugs. But I worry we are succumbing to Big Pharma’s promise of a quick fix for a lifetime of unhealthy living. We’ve seen this story play out before, where ‘wonder drugs’ turned out to have dangerous unintended consequences."

He emphasizes that for now, patients should prioritize safe and healthy lifestyle changes before resorting to these medications. This comes amidst

growing worry about how these drugs might impact patients in the long run, with data still limited.

"Until we know more about their long-term safety, I can’t in good conscience recommend these medications without addressing the potential downsides," Dr. Galloway concluded.