Short Wave NIH Director Talks The Pandemic, Vaccine Hesitancy And Americans' Health
Dec 15, 2021
Dr. Francis Collins, the longest-serving director of the NIH and a pivotal figure in the Human Genome Project, discusses urgent health issues with health correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin. They dive into the troubling rise of vaccine hesitancy driven by cultural tribalism and misinformation. Collins shares insights on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on American health and highlights health disparities that persist in the U.S. He also offers advice to his successor on navigating politically charged health topics.
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Vaccine Hesitancy Regret
- Francis Collins expresses regret over persistent vaccine hesitancy, highlighting the unexpected resistance to life-saving vaccines.
- He emphasizes the need for more research into human behavior and health communication strategies.
Invest in Health Communication Research
- Collins suggests investing in research on health communications and framing messages effectively.
- This aims to counter misinformation and reach those resistant to evidence-based information.
Missed Pandemic Control Opportunities
- Despite scientific advancements, the US missed opportunities to control the pandemic due to vaccine resistance.
- This led to a devastating toll, especially with the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants.