Communicators Require New Approaches to Build Trust in Science and Public Health

Communicators Require New Approaches to Build Trust in Science and Public Health

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. January 25, 2023 By Nellie Bristol Public health communicators need to change their approaches to ensure that those hesitant about vaccines “will adopt the desirable behavior and feel good about it,” said Michelle Williams, dean of faculty and professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She appeared with other panelists January 18 at a World Economic Forum (WEF) roundtable on the State of the Pandemic. “The worst thing we did in the U.S. was when people expressed hesitancy or curiosity, we basically said to them, ‘follow the science.’ And that’s the absolute wrong thing to do,” Williams said. Instead, communicators need to “take the approach of meeting them where they are,” help them understand the risks and the benefits, and…
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COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 18

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 18

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January 19, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 18 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: The number of booster doses administered per 100 people has increased across all income levels as follows: High income increased to 47.31 from 47.21 Upper middle income increased to 24.64 from 24.46 Lower middle income increased to 17.55 from 17.36 Low income increased to 3.29 from 2.98 Nigeria is reporting 71.01% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 65.98% two weeks ago. South Sudan is reporting 53.95% vaccination coverage of the 60+ population, which is an increase from 51% two weeks ago. Sierra Leone is reporting a 0.27% daily vaccination rate (28-day average), an increase from 0.18% in the previous report. Malawi is reporting a 0.08% daily vaccination rate (28-day average),…
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High Level Health Emergency Council Proposed for WHO Executive Board Review

High Level Health Emergency Council Proposed for WHO Executive Board Review

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The Global Accountability Platform (COVID GAP) blog series. January 12, 2023 By Nellie Bristol As health security improvement efforts continue at all governmental levels, World Health Organization (WHO) is advancing ten proposals aimed at strengthening its role and effectiveness in health emergency preparedness and response.  Originally introduced informally at last year’s World Health Assembly, the proposals are on the agenda for the WHO Executive Board (EB) meeting scheduled for late this month. Suggestions range from establishment of a Global Health Emergency Council, to improving national preparedness assessments, to increasing WHO funding to rapidly scale up response capacities. WHO leadership is asking the EB to note the report, provide guidance on how to work with Member States to move the proposals forward, and to identify any gaps. The proposed council is intended to ensure sustained high…
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COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 17

COVID GAP Accountability Report, Issue 17

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January 5, 2023: COVID GAP Accountability Report Issue 17 Key Changes and Insights Since Previous Report: China has rolled back its zero-COVID policies, and there is a lack of accurate data available regarding COVID deaths or circulating variants. Airfinity’s model predicts there will be 1.7 million deaths by the end of April 2023. Amidst the COVID-19 surge in China, several countries have implemented travel requirements for travelers coming from China. The U.S. and U.K. are requiring pre-flight COVID tests while Morocco is implementing a full entry ban. Singapore announced a pledge of USD $1 million to the Global Fund. Nigeria is reporting 65.98% vaccination coverage of their 60+ population which is an increase from 56.49% two weeks ago. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reporting 81.92% vaccination coverage of their…
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