Public Health Agencies’ Credibility Declines During Pandemic: A Closer Look at the Role They Played
Trust in public health agencies has taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, as misinformation about vaccines and the virus continues to spread on social media platforms. However, it is worth examining whether the public health agencies themselves have played a role in the decline of their credibility. Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and vaccine developer from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sheds light on this issue in his new book, “Tell Me When It’s Over: An Insider’s Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World.” In his book, Offit chronicles the early years of the pandemic, explains the science behind COVID-19, and traces the rise of the anti-vaccine movement and misinformation.
Offit points out that public health agencies made mistakes in crucial moments, such as when the FDA fast-tracked the authorization of an antimalarial drug in 2020 that had the potential for fatal heart side effects but did not prove effective against COVID-19. Former President Donald Trump touted this medication as a “game changer” for COVID treatment, which ultimately led to a loss of faith in the FDA when the authorization was revoked a few months later. Offit believes that this incident demonstrated that the FDA could be influenced.
The pandemic has been a time of both scientific advancement and growing vaccine hesitancy. Scientists were able to develop a safe and effective vaccine within a year, which Offit considers to be the greatest medical achievement of his lifetime. However, surveys conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania indicate that public trust in vaccines has declined. In the most recent survey, only 71% of respondents agreed that vaccines approved in the U.S. are safe, down from 77% in April 2021.
Offit argues that the way public health agencies and elected officials communicated during the pandemic also contributed to the erosion of public trust. He criticizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for using the term “breakthrough infection” to describe a July 4, 2021, incident in Provincetown, Mass., where nearly 350 fully vaccinated individuals developed COVID-19. Offit believes that this choice of phrasing implied that the vaccines had failed to offer protection, despite the fact that only four vaccinated individuals required hospitalization and the rest experienced mild or no symptoms.
Another instance of conflicting messaging occurred when President Joe Biden promoted booster shots for American adults in August 2021, even though they had not been approved by the FDA at that time. The FDA advisory committee later voted against the recommendation to offer boosters to people under age 65 due to insufficient evidence. Offit argues that these conflicting messages added to public distrust.
Rebuilding trust in public health agencies will be a challenging task, but Offit suggests some strategies for moving forward. He emphasizes that science and knowledge are constantly evolving, which means that the best advice from experts may change over time. Public health agencies should not shy away from this fact and should do more to explain the scientific process to the public. Offit believes that it is essential to trust the American public enough to tell them the truth, even if it means admitting mistakes.
Additionally, Offit advocates for a more aggressive response from public health agencies in addressing anti-vaccination claims and other forms of misinformation. When misinformation is spread, he suggests that public health agencies should allocate resources to campaigns that debunk these claims with scientific evidence. Offit firmly believes that those who advocate against vaccines harm children, as evidenced by recent measles outbreaks in the U.S., and he urges public health agencies to portray them as such.
In conclusion, the decline in trust in public health agencies during the pandemic can be attributed to a combination of factors, including mistakes made by these agencies, conflicting messaging from elected officials, and the spread of misinformation. Rebuilding trust will require transparency, a willingness to admit mistakes, and a proactive approach to combating misinformation. By taking these steps, public health agencies can regain the public’s trust and continue to protect the health and well-being of the population.
