Read on Twitter
Something I've thought about a lot in the last couple of days it that the same country whose scientists and infrastructure produced not one but TWO highly effective vaccines in 9 months is the same country that is on track to have 500K mostly needless deaths. (1/2)
Many of us know the reasons for this, but it's still worth probing over the next weeks, months, even years.
The vaccines prove that our scientific infrastructure -- and our scientists -- are still elite.
(2/x)
The vaccines prove that our scientific infrastructure -- and our scientists -- are still elite.
(2/x)
But that our priorities as they relate to treatment versus prevention are still so far out of balance.
Our prevention science - and scientists - are also elite. Our prevention infrastructure is not.
COVID exposed the incomprehensible vastness of this gap.
(3/x)
Our prevention science - and scientists - are also elite. Our prevention infrastructure is not.
COVID exposed the incomprehensible vastness of this gap.
(3/x)
And as usual, the most vulnerable members of society bear the harsh consequences of this gap.
Massive scale vaccination is the most urgent right now.
But next most urgent is to use the COVID experience to document, understand, address systemic disparities.
(4/4)
Massive scale vaccination is the most urgent right now.
But next most urgent is to use the COVID experience to document, understand, address systemic disparities.
(4/4)
PS #1
I am aware that BioNTech is German, led by a Turkish immigrant (to Germany), should have said so.
Obviously not a US-only effort. But BioNTech did partner with Pfizer and have offices in Cambridge MA. American scientists & infrastructure helped to deliver this vaccine.
I am aware that BioNTech is German, led by a Turkish immigrant (to Germany), should have said so.
Obviously not a US-only effort. But BioNTech did partner with Pfizer and have offices in Cambridge MA. American scientists & infrastructure helped to deliver this vaccine.
PS #2
Also want to clarify that I never said (and never believed) that American scientists are the exception. I said they are elite. Despite the ravages of the Trump presidency, this remains true. A tragedy of the COVID response is that our own leaders would not recognize it.
Also want to clarify that I never said (and never believed) that American scientists are the exception. I said they are elite. Despite the ravages of the Trump presidency, this remains true. A tragedy of the COVID response is that our own leaders would not recognize it.
PS #3
BioNTech was founded by TWO people, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci. They are married. Dr Sahin is a Turkish immigrant to Germany. Dr Türeci was born in Germany.
A remarkable thing is that Pfizer chief Albert Bourla is Greek. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/business/biontech-covid-vaccine.html
BioNTech was founded by TWO people, Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci. They are married. Dr Sahin is a Turkish immigrant to Germany. Dr Türeci was born in Germany.
A remarkable thing is that Pfizer chief Albert Bourla is Greek. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/business/biontech-covid-vaccine.html
PS #4
Larger point about disparity between US role in vaccine success (which is significant) and US failures in prevention still stands.
That said the vaccine story is a vivid case study in the powerful role of diversity in solving large complex problems (also said by others).
Larger point about disparity between US role in vaccine success (which is significant) and US failures in prevention still stands.
That said the vaccine story is a vivid case study in the powerful role of diversity in solving large complex problems (also said by others).
