Cumbernauld councillor lambasts handling of virus crisis

A Cumbernauld councillor has slammed government advice given to the public and claims thousands of UK coronavirus deaths were preventable.

Paddy Hogg, an independent councillor for Cumbernauld East, claims known science has been neglected and cites the lack of support given to nursing homes as an example of avoidable tragedy.

He said: “By mid-February  it was clear that the virus which hit China and especially Italy so hard, was one which was killing people who were mainly elderly with underlying health problems, But its mechanism of action hurt those with a compromised immune system given it triggered what is called a cytokine storm, that is, an over-reaction of our own immune system which was killing patients who contracted the virus.”

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Councillor Hogg, who has studied immunology and nutrition for decades,  is calling for government advisors to recommend taking dietary supplements to boost the immune system.

He added: “It is well known in the science literature that Vitamin D3 can prevent a cytokine storm, so why were we not all given advice to boost our immune system?.

“Yes wash your hands, but not a word on taking Vitamin D which is well known if taken at around 4000 IU (International Unit, used to measure fat soluble vitamins) per day would prevent a cytokine storm! Then there were the slogans saying ‘Soap is your best weapon against the virus’! Our best weapon against every virus is our immune system and every scientist on the planet knows this!

“Many of the deaths were preventable if the public were told to take 4000 IU of Vitamin D per day, at least 1 gram of Vitamin C which has an anti-viral immune function, plus selenium and zinc.

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“A further problem, which has led to the deaths of some younger people, is  processed ‘foods’ which have almost zero essential nutrients, which means many younger people especially with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension, were susceptible to the virus as well.”

Councillor Hogg added: “My wife and one of the my daughters works in front line care and they were taking plenty of Vitamin C which is anti viral, so too is selenium and zinc also helps fight such viral infections, plus the absolutely essential immune boosting Vitamin D.”

Councillor Hogg then condemned MPs’ attitude to the NHS as “hypocritical”, after years of austerity cuts and back door privatisation, as well as refusing to allow the use of chloraquine or intravenous vitamins.

Councillor Hogg has published a series of YouTube videos highlighting his recommendations, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ8wwsMni6g

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He adds: “Some nurses and doctors got in touch privately saying thank you but there were a tiny minority ignorant of the science of what advice I gave, which was all based on science and the advice of international medical experts,’”

He concluded: “I am certainly not being anti-SNP, as I admire Jean Freeman as the most articulate Minister in Scotland, but her advisers should be sacked due to their flagrant ignorance of human immunity and the role of key supplements in boosting our immune system. We the public reply upon these so-called experts and we trust their advice: they should go and go now.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has issued guidelines on Vitamin D in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Our advice is that everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D supplement to mitigate the effects of spending more time than usual indoors.

“We continue to consider what further advice on vitamin D may be appropriate as international understanding of this virus develops.

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“The guidance is based on the latest evidence as presented by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. In this, as in other matters, we are led by the science and we will continue to monitor the evidence closely.”

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