Incorrect extrapolation of advice led to pushing vaccines to younger populations with uncertain risk-benefit balance. Safety signals and harms were discovered, particularly inflammation of the heart affecting young men. Governments were hesitant to acknowledge and address these harms, disproportionately impacting the younger age groups. The risk of myocarditis far outweighed the potential benefits of vaccination in some populations.
The Covid vaccine saved many lives but so many mistakes were made in how public health officials discussed it, implemented it, and assessed its effectiveness. Epidemiologist Vinay Prasad of the University of California, San Francisco talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about what went wrong, the costs of the mistakes that were made, and what we can do better the next time.