(Flo/Adnkronos)
“Some journalists call it ‘enough virologists’ after all that doctors have done during this pandemic year? There is so much gratuitous ingratitude, which is what distinguishes this country: Italy is a country of ungrateful people”. Matteo Bassetti is not there and countering the front page of the newspaper ‘Libero’, which today headlines ‘Basta virologi’ in an article that highlights the conflicting positions of the best-known experts on the AstraZeneca affair, he replies in no uncertain terms. “Not that I wanted them to say ‘thank you’, but neither is enough, you broke our boxes -but the director of Infectious Diseases of San Martino di Genova- They forget that we do not represent only ourselves but the whole world of medicine and all the doctors in the wards, we should avoid having any boutade like this “.
“I have always spent myself on vaccines, trying to clarify, even when the messages were not clear. I am an expert and I speak as one and I do not see who should talk about vaccines if not the experts in infectious diseases. Journalists? Politicians? Well. Keep journalists and politicians if you prefer them, I frankly prefer that talking about vaccines and how Covid is evolving is a doctor, an expert in microbiology, an immunologist, an infectious disease specialist “, says the doctor dryly. “I frankly would prefer a country to be led by infectious disease experts for vaccination policy and coronavirus management. If Libero prefers journalists, politicians or citizens to do this, I don’t know what to say.”
And on the controversies triggered by the frequent changes of opinion and the discordant opinions of the best-known experts, who according to some would ignite fears and skepticism in citizens regarding vaccines, Bassetti is clear: “Differences are part of science, medicine is not a exact matter. Everyone has their own way of seeing things, there are clinical studies and if a study says the opposite of what you thought, you will come back to your positions “. And he thunders: “Perhaps it escapes journalists what our job is. It is to refute, only by refuting can results be obtained, otherwise we will have that the earth is still flat. This must be a message that must arrive loud and clear. Science it is debate. It is right that doctors also have different ideas “. For Bassetti, therefore, in the experts there is no ‘exhibitionism’ in appearing often on TV. “If I miss going on video when the pandemic ends? No, of course, I will not miss it, because it means that we will be out of it and finally we will start dealing with other diseases again. But now we need it.”
Immediate reply of the director of ‘Libero’ Alessandro Sallusti: “I totally agree with Professor Bassetti: enough with journalists who are virologists. It is a pity, however, that too many virologists have started to be journalists”, says Sallusti.
“Enough with virologists who are journalists – explains Sallusti – Virologists are not made to guide public opinion, they are made to fight the virus”. And it is not, according to the new director of the newspaper, a problem of excessive presence: “Presence is fine, it is not that a virologist is forbidden to introduce himself – he points out – it is that if three show up and say three different things, because this this is what is happening, in public opinion they create panic, confusion, uncertainty “.
Sallusti therefore claims the role of the journalist: “It is not that I want to limit the freedom of expression of virologists, mind you. But it is my job to detect the Babel they have created”. And he gives an example for everyone: “On Friday at 7 pm Locatelli was on live television saying yes to the vaccine mix, and at 8.30 pm from Gruber I think Crisanti, or I don’t remember who, who said ‘no, it’s dangerous’. one wonders: is it dangerous or not? What should I do? For the people those are virologists, someone to trust. But if they say two different things within an hour and a half, we have a problem. ” And he concludes with an observation: “Among the various forms of communication, I remember that there is also that of being silent”.
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