The Pandemic Shook America's Trust in Vaccines—and Taught Us Something About Building Trust in Institutions
- The Pandemic Shook America's Trust in Vaccines—and Taught Us Something About Building Trust in Institutions BYUradio 54:03
The pandemic shook America’s trust, especially in vaccines. But it also taught us something about building trust in institutions. During the pandemic, Americans lost trust across the board. Today, trust in institutions like the media, the medical system, public schools, and all branches of government is at an all-time low.
Before the pandemic, three in four Americans said science had mostly positive effects on society. Today, that’s down to barely half. When it comes to vaccines specifically, fewer than half of Americans think childhood vaccines are “extremely important.” That’s the lowest level in 25 years. The pandemic also sparked new vaccine hesitancy, driven by shifting health guidelines and vaccination mandates that forced people to take a side. Plus, the COVID shot was developed faster than normal using new Technology.
On this episode of Top of Mind, we’re taking a closer look at what happened to America’s relationship with vaccines during the pandemic to see what we can learn about building – and maintaining – public trust. We’ll hear a range of viewpoints exploring what it was like to gain trust, to lose it, and to try and foster it. This is not an episode about whether or not people should get vaccinated. Vaccines are just a useful lens to get at the deeper issue of how and why we trust institutions.
Guests:
Heather Simpson, former anti-vaccine influencer and co-founder of website “Back to the Vax” (https://backtothevax.com/)
Maya Goldenberg, professor of philosophy at the University of Guelph and the author of Vaccine Hesitancy: Public Trust, Expertise, and the War on Science (https://upittpress.org/books/9780822966906/)
Jennifer Sharp, filmmaker and director of the Anecdotals (http://www.jennifersharpfilms.com/)
Bill Petri, doctor, scientist, and professor at the University of Virginia (https://dailyprogress.com/life-Entertainment/local/wellness/dr-william-petri-lions-bears-and-covid-an-update-for-the-summer/article_e7747372-2422-11ee-a785-d3f1e0a035ef.html)
Links:
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