We found that having a depoliticized process improves trust in your outcome. There was a significant difference between the two groups-the December one was much more popular. We asked one group if they would take and have confidence in a vaccine approved a week before the election, and we asked the other the same question about a vaccine approved in December. “We need to send the message that we’re back to what we’ve been doing for decades.”īefore the election, we did a study with colleagues in political science, where we randomized people into two groups. We need to send the message that we’re back to what we’ve been doing for decades. I think there’s been a course correction at FDA, but a lot of people don’t know that. This is not your run-of-the-mill vaccine hesitancy-a lot of people who would take other vaccines are concerned about this one, because of President Trump’s endorsement of hydroxychloroquine. Then, you engage with communities who are disproportionately impacted, by engaging with leaders of those communities. We need a mainstream, transparent, regulatory recommendation process. But we need a whole infrastructure of communicators. There’s a whole infrastructure training people to do this kind of thing. Why is this an afterthought? Science communication just can’t be an afterthought. But if they create a vaccine, are people going to take them? We developed a $10–12 billion vaccine program, and we didn’t realize what the message sent by its name would be. Operation Warp Speed has done a good job of developing products-the vaccines are very promising. On how to get the message right: I can see why people have concerns that the name “Operation Warp Speed” conveys speed without rigor. If it’s worth implementing, it’s worth defending. Not only what the government is saying, but why they’re saying it. What are the guidelines for indoor transmission? What are the guidelines, for example, specifically for cruise ships? At the policy level, there needs to be radical transparency. I hate to use a militaristic term, but fighting a pandemic is not just a big war, it’s a lot of little battles. They should get a free hand in terms of setting guidelines. These are not just bureaucrats, they are the best in the world. There has to be inclusion of the career folks. This is what following science looks like in practice. There is a lot of muscle memory at CDC and at FDA. On letting scientists lead: The first thing Biden can do is to make sure the career people are empowered. Omer and I spoke about how Biden might change course on the pandemic response-from the importance of bipartisan endorsement of a COVID-19 vaccine to restoring the CDC to its former glory-and the critical importance of consistent and credible communication during a pandemic. This summer, Omer was a member of the Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus at the National Academies of Sciences, which released guidelines for prioritizing groups of Americans to vaccinate against COVID-19. An expert on respiratory diseases and the immunizations that prevent them, he’s also done extensive work investigating the political, psychological, and societal factors that influence individuals’ trust in vaccines. His background has positioned him as an authority on the medical and social dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saad Omer, an epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist, directs the Yale Institute for Global Health. So how do we fix what COVID-19 has shown was broken? In this Mother Jones series, we’re asking experts from a wide range of disciplines one question: What are the most important steps we can take to make sure we’re better prepared next time around? Infectious disease experts agree that it’s only a matter of time before the next pandemic hits, and that one could be even more deadly. Despite repeated warnings from infectious disease experts over the years, we lacked essential beds, equipment, and medication public health advice was confusing and our leadership offered no clear direction while sidelining credible health professionals and institutions. Check out our most recent coverage of the coronavirus crisis, and subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily newsletter.Īs the world grapples with the devastation of the coronavirus, one thing is clear: The United States simply wasn’t prepared. The coronavirus is a rapidly developing news story, so some of the content in this article might be out of date.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |