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Michael Head

@michaelghead.bsky.social
130 followers 301 following 24 posts

Academic and advocacy-enthusiast, at University of Southampton. Research/teaching covers #publichealth, #globalhealth, #NTDs, #vaccinehesitancy, #climateandhealth. Sometimes seen in #Ghana

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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Hantavirus is on board a cruise ship. What is this virus? Why rats? Is this COVID 2.0*? And how do scientist's comments end up as news? I've scribbled about that here- globalhealthunpacked.com/behind-the-h... * No. #hantavirus #GlobalHealth #globalhealthunpacked #PublicHealth #globalhealthstory
globalhealthunpacked.com
Behind the headlines: hantavirus on board - Global Health Unpacked
First in an occasional series of #globalhealthstory, covering a little bit of a ‘behind the scenes’ take to global health news coverage. As I write this, it’s Monday 4 May 2026, and a bank holiday in ...
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Launching December, myself and colleague Jess Boxall have a new personal webspace! We will do global health stories. There’ll be reflections under the heading of ‘Imagine..’ (for example ‘Imagine you are a pregnant lady bleeding, in a remote community, and it’s the rainy season- what do you do?’)
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University of Southampton @unisouthampton.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Our global health experts highlight the urgent need for more cancer research funding for lower-income countries, which receive just a small share of money worldwide. Read more 👉 southampton.pulse.ly/hhur5pomai @michaelghead.bsky.social
A person wearing a white polo shirt and blue gloves is arranging a tray filled with multiple small test tubes, each sealed with a blue cap. The scene appears to be in a laboratory or medical setting, with various equipment and supplies visible on the table, including a colorful grid plate and a blue cylindrical container.
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University of Southampton News @uosmedia.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Find out how our global health expert Dr @michaelghead.bsky.social and his colleagues @unisouthampton.bsky.social think President Trump cuts could affect worldwide cancer research funding, and how to safeguard it. theconversation.com/how-to-save-...
theconversation.com
How to save global cancer research from Trump’s cuts
What happens if Trump cuts cancer research funding?
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Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Conspiracy theories could harm sustainability www.nature.com/articles/s41... "...conspiracy beliefs are mostly associated with reduced public health and well-being, weakened social cohesion and deteriorated basic human rights..." "...mostly negative implications for sustainable attitudes..."
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
New paper published - "Global funding for surgical research between 2016 and 2020: content analysis of public and philanthropic investments " See British Journal of Surgery @bjsurgery.bsky.social academic.oup.com/bjs/article/... #surgery #publichealth #globalhealth #funding
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Off to Geneva for the World Health Assembly. Very much looking forward to three days of many interesting events, covering #womenshealth #foodinsecurity #NTDs, and so many other topics! Like an Edinburgh Festival, for nerds. Heaven 😊 #wha78 #globalhealth #publichealth 🧪
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Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
1/Almost 9 years ago I was standing in front of the TV in shock and disbelief over the Brexit vote. To be truthful, my anxiety was not because of the predicted economic consequences. It was because the vote showed me that campaigns based on prejudice work in this country. And it went downhill since.
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
We have a portfolio of research around the topic of #climatechange and #health, particularly in #Ghana, West Africa. Many thanks to Jo Fisher for this profile of my and Jess Boxall's research. www.southampton.ac.uk/research/hig... @uosmedia.bsky.social #academicsky #globalhealth #publichealth
southampton.ac.uk
Developing community-led climate and health solutions in Ghana
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Action for Global Health @afghnetwork.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
📰 @bondngo.bsky.social's Gideon Rabinowitz: “UK aid isn’t about charity, it is about global solidarity and responsibility to our international commitments, and it’s an investment in a safer, healthier and more sustainable world that benefits us here in the UK.” www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Aid groups hit back over development minister’s ‘charity’ comments
Groups said they rejected Baroness Jenny Chapman’s description of aid during her appearance before the Commons International Development Committee.
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Nice to be recognised! Don't know who the kind soul was, but I've been nominated for Vice Chancellors Award at @unisouthampton.bsky.social. Am very passionate about advoacy to improve public narrative on #researchsky & #universities @uosmedia.bsky.social @uoscommsallison.bsky.social #academicsky
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Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
“Measles vaccine is one of the best tools we have to protect public health. Like all medicines, there can be a risk of side effects, but the benefits far outweigh them: both for individuals and the community as a whole” ourworldindata.org/measles-vacc...
ourworldindata.org
How effective and safe are measles vaccines?
Data from large meta-analyses show that measles vaccination is highly effective and safe, giving a 95% reduction in the risk of measles.
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Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
This is very concerning and getting much less attention than the measles- a range of vaccine preventable conditions increasing in US now
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🦋FightForDemocracy!🦋 @budahsbaker.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Nobel Prize winning science.
nbcnews.com
Moderna's combo Covid and flu mRNA shot outperforms current vaccines in large trial
A combination shot would make it easier for people to get vaccinated against Covid and the flu at the same time.
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Reposted by Michael Head
Yasir Essar @yasiressar.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Pleased to share our latest publication from Refugee Health YYC team ⬇️ This study provides compelling evidence highlighting that refugees can effectively prioritize their healthcare needs and establish research agendas when given the resources to reach consensus. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org
Empowering refugee voices: Using Nominal Group Technique (NGT) with a diverse refugee Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) to identify health and research priorities in Calgary, Canada
Background Despite rising forced displacement globally, refugees’ health and research priorities are largely unknown. We investigated whether a diverse refugee committee could utilize participatory me...
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
Blog 👇below links to here - www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi... For simplicity, Trump policies are killing >100 people per hour.
impactcounter.com
Impact Dashboard - Impact Counter | Impact Counter
Visualize the human impact of funding changes for aid and support organizations.
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
I have a 0.2 FTE role in @uosmedia.bsky.social as Head of Academic Advocacy. Being the bridge between my fellow academics and media/comms team See article in @timeshighered.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/bridg... #education #university #universities #researchsky #academicsky 🧪
timeshighereducation.com
A bridge between academics and communications staff
Science communication in a post-Covid world calls for a new way to span the gap between researchers and university comms teams – and a new skill set, as Michael Head explains
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
This is why we recommend #vaccines to prevent consequences of very nasty #infectiousdiseases 👇 As the hashtag goes, #vaccineswork 🧪 #publichealth #globalhealth #measles
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
New Canadian #flu paper @stephaniedavey.bsky.social "It is notable that over 1/4 of deaths occurred in children without a medical condition deemed high risk for #influenza complications, highlighting importance of preventative measures for all children." #vaccines #vaccineswork #publichealth 🧪
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
It's wearying to see the universities minister be this unaware of the reality. Thread below nails many important points 👇 #researchsky #academicsky #university #education 🧪
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Do agree with this 👇 We need a university workforce that is comfortable in areas way beyond simply teaching, or 'talking to other scientists at conferences'. And universities themselves need to provide recognition and guidance for those who choose to put their heads above the parapet.
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Very pleased to have been a co-author on this one :-) Flu vaccines are imperfect but overwhelmingly beneficial. A higher uptake in priority groups, which includes children, is vital. 🧪 💉 #vaccineswork #flu #influenza #publichealth #globalhealth
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
"Misinformation causes harm, and costs lives" Quote from me about the explosion in #measles cases- www.dw.com/en/global-me... We could eradicate measles. No animal host, and about the most effective #vaccine there is But, one of the key drivers to transmission is spread of misinformation
dw.com
What's behind the recent measles outbreaks around the world? – DW – 05/07/2025
Vaccine programs almost eradicated measles, but cases are rising again in every part of the world. Health advisors say it's a 'wake-up call' for renewed vaccination efforts.
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Michael Head @michaelghead.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
New round these parts 👋 I'm a #globalhealth researcher, at @unisouthampton.bsky.social Focus on #digitalhealth and #populationhealth in rural #Ghana. Likely occasional #infectiousdisease commentary. And new to running 🏃‍♂️ so therefore still enthusiastic about it. 🧪 🌎 Photos from Ghana 📷
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