Pendemic Data

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

There really were whole areas, especially race and ethnicity, where most states and territories never developed a really robust way to collect that kind of demographic data. When there would be a bad surge somewhere and lots of deaths, the people who fill out death certificates would get really behind, and so death numbers would lag. Or yet another example, really critical demographic data would just be missing. And it makes people mistrust data, as whet does.

Data is the lifeblood of public health, and has been since the beginning of the field. But essential data gathering for the COVID pandemic was hindered by a couple of of underlying weakness in the US public health apparatus. We have a fractured system where the power lies in US states that don't always coordinate effectively. Also there has been inconsistent funding. When there was an immediate crisis, there would be an infusion of cash. But then, when the crisis passed, the resources would evaporate.

We take a look at data gathering in regards to public health from the 1600s to today and how it might change in the future.

Support for this episode was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation. RWJF is working to build a culture of health that ensures everyone in the United States has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. If you have a hunch about how changes to the way we live, learn, work and play today are shaping our future, share it here: www.shareyourhunch.org