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Martin Kulldorff, Harvard epidemiologist, reminds us of 12 grounding principles to public health, with trust being the linchpin. This thread addresses whether, 1 year into the C19 response, you "trust" public health. 1/ https://twitter.com/MartinKulldorff/status/1340352565481975812?s=09
My initial response would be an emphatic "No". Who wouldn't after a chaotic year where lockdowns were pushed upon an unwitting public and scientific reasoning shunned. But underneath this binary choice, there is a shade of grey. Lets dig in and think a bit. 2/
As one reads deeper into the literature and gov't policy plans, one can observe a clear intellectual divide in the public health community. For simplicity, I will refer to them as the traditionalists and theorists. 3/
Dr. Richard Schabas, the former chief medical officer for Ontario, is an example of a traditionalist. He spoke eloquently to the Canadian Parliament in May 2020, stressing how important it was not to panic. He wanted MPs to think long and hard of their actions. 4/
His thoughts haven't changed with time and the point he was making was simple. Don't let panic turn a short term tragedy into a long term crisis. Policy decisions should be tied to established research and experience. 5/ https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ontario-lockdown-not-supported-by-strong-science-says-former-chief-medical-officer-of-health
The voices of the traditionalists have been largely ignored, kicked to the sideline by theorists, short on experience and real world experience, but long on quack modeling and fringe epidemiological concepts. Bad ideas stick to theorists like flies to fly paper. 6/
The consequences were predictable and appalling. 11 months of continual policy failures from lockdowns, social isolation, masks and track/trace. Society has been ripped apart by zany theory, ego and rank ignorance. 7/ https://rationalground.com/lockdowns-pros-and-cons/
It's time for society to dig itself out the hole created by these naive academics. How to start? First, remove the cancerous source of dysfunction, the theoretists, and replace them with traditionalists. 8/
In Ontario that means eliminating the Ontario science table, an endless source of public frustration and high school level antics. It is a panel compromised by conflict of interest and ethics. 9/ https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ontarios-science-table-head-reveals-david-fisman-conflict-of-interest-timing
Tradionalist voices should be embedded within a broader "C19 recovery panel". Their mandate should have wider societal perspective, with stake holders bringing a range of practical knowledge and logistical application. 10/
This isn't some fairy tale dream. It's actually gov't policy, something we collectively forgot and which sits on the shelf. David Redman, Alberta's former chief emergency planner, has been actively championing this pragmatic idea. 11/ https://twitter.com/JCCFCanada/status/1357102834320248832?s=09
So its time for action, empower the traditional voices of reason in the public health community. Embed them in the power structures needed to reestablish society. A neccessary task that will allow the public health community rebuild that elusive "trust". 12/
