How has it come to pass that vaccines, once heralded as miracles of modern medical science, with people lining up in droves to take shots and sugar cubes that would prevent them and their children from getting polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and many others, are now suspect and avoided by a significant number of people.
"What should be possible is for Public Health figures and scientist-physicians to learn from the events of the Pandemic and have their communications make it immediately clear, what is a best guess based on little to no scientific data, and what recommendations are supported by strong evidence."
The problem, which is not limited to public health organizations, is prioritization of immediate goals. Admitting that a recommendation is based on a best guess would be expected to decrease compliance. The likelihood that a poor recommendation would decrease compliance with all future recommendation is ignored because the negative effect is delayed.
"What should be possible is for Public Health figures and scientist-physicians to learn from the events of the Pandemic and have their communications make it immediately clear, what is a best guess based on little to no scientific data, and what recommendations are supported by strong evidence."
The problem, which is not limited to public health organizations, is prioritization of immediate goals. Admitting that a recommendation is based on a best guess would be expected to decrease compliance. The likelihood that a poor recommendation would decrease compliance with all future recommendation is ignored because the negative effect is delayed.
Seems to sum up the MO quite accurately.
Thanks Jeff for sharing your insightful facts and opinions, sprinkled with your signature Dr Kocher humor 🙂.