How do we get beyond the societal divisions of the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr Robert Goddard

Dr. Philip McMillan introduces the importance of diverse voices in addressing COVID-19 challenges. • 1:08

Dr. Robert Goddard gives a brief introduction as an oral maxillofacial surgeon. • 3:12

Dr. Goddard shares his inspiration for creating the ‘Touched by COVID’ symbol. • 5:19

The badge on Dr. Goddard’s shirt symbolizes unity, diversity, and remembrance for COVID-19 impact. • 6:52

Concept of ‘Touch By Covered’ to encourage self-reflection and empathy towards others • 8:15

Early recognition of societal divide during the pandemic • 8:33

Anticipation of prolonged impact of the pandemic due to economic and medical factors • 10:07

Acknowledgment of the need for a new normal and societal reconnection • 12:04

Importance of emotional distancing in addition to physical distancing • 13:10

Reflection on societal response and management of the pandemic over time • 14:03

Symbol of the shield representing the fight against the pandemic on multiple fronts • 14:09

Emphasizing the importance of remembering all those affected by the pandemic, including long-term effects and mental health. • 16:39

Promoting solidarity and unity through a symbol like a badge to support charitable causes. • 19:09

Addressing societal splits and divisions by encouraging dialogue and communication between different groups. • 21:12

Societal divisions are prominent due to COVID-19, surpassing even Brexit divides. • 21:20

Discussion on vaccination status is causing significant divides among people. • 21:40

Importance of open dialogue and discussions to bridge divides and encourage understanding. • 22:19

Fear plays a significant role in driving people to extreme actions during the pandemic. • 23:13

Need for optimism but also preparedness for a prolonged battle against the pandemic. • 26:02

Variation in levels of fear among different age groups, with older generations exhibiting more fear. • 28:01

Younger generations being the future, their lower fear levels could be a positive sign for overcoming the pandemic. • 28:30

COVID-19 fear drives societal divisions, challenging fear is crucial • 28:43

COVID-19 severity is not random, understanding the science helps alleviate fear • 29:20

Initial focus on protecting vulnerable shifted to mass vaccination strategy • 31:37

Ethnicity and lifestyle play a role in COVID-19 mortality, not solely genetics • 32:03

Certain groups, like neonates, are less affected due to immune system responses • 33:34

Educating people on the science behind immune responses is crucial • 35:04

Challenges in comparing vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated groups due to lack of control and placebo groups in studies. • 36:00

Age and comorbidities are primary drivers for severe COVID-19 cases, with younger individuals less likely to experience severe disease. • 38:22

The fear of randomness in severe COVID-19 cases drives anxiety, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific reasons behind each case. • 39:06

The presentation of COVID-19 data to children revealed the unpredictability of outcomes and the need for accurate scientific understanding to alleviate fear. • 39:22

Personal experiences during the pandemic underscored the complexity of COVID-19 outcomes and the need for a nuanced approach to assessing risk and treatment. • 41:31

Observations of older individuals surviving COVID-19 challenge common perceptions, highlighting the variability in outcomes across age groups. • 41:45

Younger individuals may have no symptoms while older ones may survive with symptoms. • 42:21

Need to look beyond epidemiology and consider all-cause mortality for accurate assessment. • 43:26

All-cause mortality data shows concerning trends across different age groups in Europe. • 45:10

Rising mortality rates in younger age groups require further investigation for underlying causes. • 47:14

Importance of minimizing interventions due to associated risks in medical practice. • 48:33

Questioning the shift from focusing on vulnerable individuals to a broader population for interventions. • 48:47

Need for histology or histopathology evidence to understand virus mechanisms better. • 49:12

Recent news about COVID-19 impact in the UK prompts further reflection on current strategies. • 49:26

Global disparities in COVID-19 death rates among countries with different vaccination policies. • 49:34

Importance of combining strategies, like in the case of managing heart failure, for effective COVID-19 management. • 50:07

Success of early treatment strategies in reducing COVID-19 deaths in countries like Honduras. • 51:13

Lack of openness to alternative strategies beyond vaccination in managing COVID-19 in first-world countries. • 52:31

Importance of timely and appropriate treatment for established COVID-19 infections to prevent severe outcomes. • 53:40

Significant inflammation in asymptomatic COVID-19 cases indicates the need for better understanding of the disease progression. • 54:03

Effectiveness of interventions like steroids and antihistamines in preventing COVID-19 deaths when administered at the right time. • 55:31

Urgent need for embracing and implementing proven treatment strategies globally for better COVID-19 outcomes. • 56:05

Early intervention in viral infections is crucial, similar to bacterial infections. • 56:46

Patients may struggle to access timely care due to protocol limitations and defensive medicine. • 57:32

Importance of speaking up and investigating all aspects of a health crisis. • 59:27

Emphasize the need for histology and pathological examination of tissues for better understanding of diseases. • 1:02:00

Advocacy for conducting core biopsies on almost every patient to understand early infection mechanisms. • 1:02:26

Call for more autopsies and tissue analysis to identify transition points in disease progression. • 1:03:17

Importance of detailed autopsies for understanding COVID-19 progression • 1:03:45

Speculation on Omicron’s impact compared to other variants • 1:05:00

Discussion on the significance of mucosal immunity in preventing severe infection • 1:07:11

Consideration of vaccine’s effect on mucosal immunity production • 1:08:32

Encouragement to spread awareness about ‘Touch by Covid’ initiative • 1:09:06

Information on accessing ‘Touch by Covid’ resources via social media platforms • 1:10:05

Request for feedback and engagement from viewers • 1:10:25

Encouraging volunteering for podcast interviews • 1:10:32

Potential use of podcasts in BBC archives • 1:10:40

Leaving a legacy for future generations through interviews • 1:10:52

Invitation to contact for interviews • 1:10:58

Appreciation for the time and support • 1:11:04

Hope for more interesting speakers in 2022 • 1:11:12

Wishing everyone a great evening • 1:11:25