Peter Breadon

There are strong foundations to build on including improved data, growing pharmacy vaccination, and lessons from child vaccination and pandemic programs. But vaccine complacency, confusion and distrust have risen, so agreeing a national plan is urgent. (7/7)

Governments need a plan to turn things around, clarifying governance, raising ambition, and tackling low and high barriers alike. (6/7)

My new report with @ingrid_burfurd shows that too many older adults aren’t getting vaccinated for COVID, flu, shingles & pneumococcal disease. 💉💉💉💉 These vaccines are very safe for people recommended to get them and they slash health risks. 🧵(1/7) grattan.edu.au/report/a-fair-…

@sumdepony @GrattanInst @Lach_fox I see what you mean, but there's minimal hedonic loss. Evidence that consumers don't notice the difference (blind taste testing & revealed preferences when implemented) - see report. Despite population averages, ppl impacted live with the effects of stroke, die ealier etc.

@GrattanInst @PeterBreadon @Lach_fox (25,000,000/36,000)/365=1.9 days per Australian. Are we sure that the hedonic loss of enjoying food less is worth 2 extra healthy days of life? I'm not sure of that. If anything, this convinces me in the opposite direction.

Eating less salt could see Australians collectively living an extra 36,000 healthy years in the next two decades. Each year, it would delay more than 300 deaths while saving money from reduced hospital visits. Our new report buff.ly/3QBpHYe @PeterBreadon @Lach_fox

@dannolan @GrattanInst @Lach_fox Many measures like this will add up. Even on its own, it improves health, saves 100s of lives a year, saves $ for consumers and government ... with no noticeable change in taste. Gains may seem small, but like tobacco need to keep pushing with incremental improvements.

@GrattanInst @PeterBreadon @Lach_fox Do we need to crowdfund you a calculator

@FartsJurassic @sumdepony @GrattanInst @Lach_fox Much more than two extra days for some people. There's lots of evidence that people don't notice any change in taste from salt limits (check out the report). Plus net savings for government and consumers ... and you can still add salt if you want! Why wouldn't we do this?

@sumdepony @GrattanInst @PeterBreadon @Lach_fox Give up salt for two extra days. No way. Bring me the shaker.

Thanks also to Kathy Trieu and @BruceNeal1 at @georgeinstitute for all their research on salt and health, which we drew on, and their generous advice. (13)

These gains don't just pay for themselves, they're also just the start of what's possible. Our recommendations are for targets other countries have set, met, then made tougher. Like other countries, we should keep improving the policy to make more health gains. (12)

A new report with @Lach_fox shows how better policies to reduce salt intake would improve health, delay deaths, and reduce healthcare costs. 🧵(1) grattan.edu.au/report/sneaky-…