The success of behavioural measures in controlling COVID-19 The scientific consensus and behavioral measures <span style="color:green">Pre-vaccination, the only effective measures to control the pandemic were behavioral</span>: mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, accompanied by testing and tracing. These behavioral measures helped control the spread of the virus and in some cases even eliminated the virus from countries <span style="color:green"> for long periods of time</span>. For example, in New Zealand the government decided early on to eliminate the virus and implemented a strict nationwide lockdown on 26 March 2020. In early May, the last known case was identified, which marked the end of known community spread. On 8 June 2020, the New Zealand government effectively declared the pandemic over, 103 days after the first identified case (Baker et al., 2020). A subsequent outbreak in August 2020, too, was brought under control by October 2020. There <span style="color:green">was widespread </span>scientific consensus at the time that behavioral measures were a necessary component of any strategy to control the pandemic until the vaccine became widely administered (Alwan et al., 2020). <span style="color:green">Because a large proportion of people who catch COVID-19 would need intensive hospital care, a natural, extreme herd immunity approach would be overwhelming for hospitals. Behavioural measures consequently remained relevant to control the spread and help healthcare systems cope. </span> Vaccines and other health protective measures Despite vaccines, health-protective behaviors <span style="color:green">have remained relevant to varying degrees depending on context.</span> New viral strains may keep this a live issue (Paltiel et al., 2020).
3/6/2023Why freeriding might be a disastrous strategy Individual protection and group benefits Vaccines protect against infection by activating the body's natural immunity. Vaccinations therefore offer direct benefits to the individual who receives the vaccine. However, vaccinations also protect others around the person being vaccinated by reducing the spread of the disease. When enough people are vaccinated against diseases that can be spread from person to person, this creates "herd immunity", which means that even those people who cannot get a vaccine (e.g., because they are too young or have a health condition) are protected because the disease cannot spread when nearly everybody in a population is vaccinated. Vaccinations therefore play a dual role: they protect the person being vaccinated, but they also offer protection to others in society, even people we don't know. Opportunities for altruism and freeriding The dual role of vaccinations opens up an avenue for altruism (Brewer et al., 2017): We may decide to get vaccinated to protect other, weaker members of society. Indeed, when people are reminded of the prosocial consequences of vaccinations, they often become more willing to get vaccinated (Betsch et al., 2017). However, the dual role of vaccinations also creates an opportunity for the opposite response: Some people may decide to become "freeriders" and let others get the vaccine while they get the beneficial effect of herd immunity without being vaccinated. Vaccination decisions thus pose a social dilemma in which the choice to be vaccinated increases the public good by conferring herd immunity, and the choice not to be vaccinated represents freeriding on others’ prosocial actions while also putting oneself and others in danger.
1/13/2023{%hackmd GHtBRFZdTV-X1g8ex-NMQg %} Trust in scientists The contextual and ephemeral nature of trust Trust in scientists has in general increased during the pandemic in several countries, despite claims and concerns about decreasing trust. For example, according to a survey administered via the Corona Spezial Science Barometer, the share of Germans who completely trust scientists doubled between 2019 and November mid-2020, reaching 70% of the German public. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the Open Knowledge Foundation found that 64% of poll respondents were more likely to listen to expert advice from qualified scientists and researchers. However, in the United States, trust in scientists and medical experts has only risen among Democrats according to a Pew Research opinion poll conducted in May 2020. An article posted on Johns Hopkins University's Bloomsberg School of Public Health Experts Insights page reported a similar finding. The article, titled "Trust in Science and COVID-19," discusses findings from an April 2020 national survey, where 89% of Democrats viewed social distancing as very important, relative to 72% of Independents and 66% of Republicans. Relatedly, Americans' willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine varies significantly by underlying partisan and ideological positioning according to Newport's (2020, December) recent article on Gallup's website.
12/6/2022{%hackmd GHtBRFZdTV-X1g8ex-NMQg %} The COVID-19 Vaccine Development Process ..and why you should not worry about it Many people understand the need for a COVID-19 vaccine but have concerns about its safety and effectiveness due to the rapid development of the vaccine and the use of relatively novel mRNA technology. ::: info You can read more about mRNA technology and why it is safe on our dedicated COVID-19 vaccine fact page. :::
12/1/2022