We spoke at length about the public's eroded trust in public health “institutions” due to their actions and inactions -- perceived and real -- during the pandemic. Larson questioned whether the medical community acknowledged its role in the issue, suggesting that a full mea culpa was necessary to rebuild trust. I offered that misinformation and disinformation about vaccines -- in particular, the COVID vaccines -- was an important factor.
Our discussion shifted to potential remedies. I advocated for robust advertising campaigns/Public Service Announcements, such as the on-air advertisement aimed at ending child hunger that preceded our conversation. I stressed the importance of Public Service Announcements featuring influential figures -- for example, a Super Bowl ad with prominent individuals, like Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, President Biden, and former President Trump, getting vaccinated. However, Larson expressed reservations about the credibility of public figures in these campaigns.
Our conversation highlighted the complex challenges surrounding declining vaccination rates, the importance of rebuilding public trust in the medical community, and combating disinformation about vaccines.
You can find the complete audio of our conversation here.
Are you looking for a deeper dive?
America's Exploding Vaccination Crisis
Dr. Califf’s article, Is Vaccination Approaching a Dangerous Tipping Point?
Henry I. Miller, MS, MD
Henry I. Miller, MS, MD, is the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health. His research focuses on public policy toward science, technology, and medicine, encompassing a number of areas, including pharmaceutical development, genetic engineering, models for regulatory reform, precision medicine, and the emergence of new viral diseases. Dr. Miller served for fifteen years at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a number of posts, including as the founding director of the Office of Biotechnology.
