34 min
Insights On The COVID-19 Pandemic And Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy With Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Luciana Borio Joyfully You Life with Dr. Patrina Clark
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Dr. Luciana “Lu” Borio is a medical doctor and infectious disease expert who has dedicated her career to preparing for epidemics. Lu is a leading source of insight on COVID-19, and specializes in emerging infectious diseases, complex public health, emergencies, and bio defense. She is a highly sought-after advisor on these issues, and also served as the Acting Chief Scientist for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). President Biden named Lu as one of the 13 members of his COVID-19 Advisory Board, and today she joins Patrina to discuss in detail the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, and the importance of increasing vaccination access globally.
Lu breaks down the different types of vaccine hesitancy groups, debunks the most common misconceptions held by COVID skeptics, such as insufficient safety trials and fertility concerns, and explains that the greatest risk lies in not being vaccinated at all. Patrina asks Lu about variants and mutations of the virus, current travel advisories, and how to approach loved ones or colleagues who may be skeptical about getting the vaccine. Lu clarifies that even those who have recovered from COVID should still get vaccinated, as they could still become infected with new variants. She talks about what we have learned about COVID since the beginning of the pandemic, being intentional about which risks you decide to take, and protecting your physical health so that you can live your most fulfilled life in every other aspect. Finally, Lu and Patrina both share what is bringing them joy presently, and what they are most looking forward to as the nation continues on this positive trajectory in the fight against COVID.
Episode Highlights:
Luciana (Lu) is an infectious disease physician and public health administrator who has dedicated her career to preparing for epidemics
Patrina and Lu are good friends, and Lu persuaded Patrina from taking a family trip to New York City right as the pandemic was beginning, and very likely saved her life
President Biden’s goal is to have 70% of adults vaccinated for COVID-19 by July 4
Currently, at least 62% of adults over 18 have received at least one dose of the vaccine
Important to keep this in perspective, rather than focusing entirely on vaccine hesitancy
Vaccines are safe, effective, and have been thoroughly tested
Lu is hopeful about where the US currently stands in terms of vaccinations
Biggest challenge now is to scale production so that the rest of the world can benefit from them as well
Vaccine hesitancy should not overshadow that most people are taking the important step to get vaccinated and help save lives
Lu reiterates just how safe the vaccine is, and reminds listeners that the technology behind it has been in development for more than 20 years
The fact that people feel anxious is understandable, but instead of dismissing people who are hesitant, we should focus on how to positively shift their position
Harvard study broke down main “hesitancy” groups
Watchful (80%) - Simply can’t afford to take time off work or leave their children with someone to get vaccinated, even if it’s free
System Destructors (4%) - Do not feel the healthcare system has their best interest at heart and question what strings are attached (largely in Black communities)
COVID Skeptics (14%) - Don’t believe COVID is a real problem to begin with, they want to have full autonomy over decision-making, very difficult to influence
Doctors and healthcare professionals are not immune from being COVID skeptics, and people go to these practitioners to reinforce their hesitancy
Lu’s advice is to try to understand the misconceptions of COVID skeptics
Debunks beliefs that vaccine had insufficient safety trials and negatively impacts fertility
Vaccine meets and exceeds FDA safety standards
The real risk lies in not being vaccinated
Vaccines based in the US are holding up well against new variants and mutations
More important than ever to increase glocal vaccination
Dr. Luciana “Lu” Borio is a medical doctor and infectious disease expert who has dedicated her career to preparing for epidemics. Lu is a leading source of insight on COVID-19, and specializes in emerging infectious diseases, complex public health, emergencies, and bio defense. She is a highly sought-after advisor on these issues, and also served as the Acting Chief Scientist for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). President Biden named Lu as one of the 13 members of his COVID-19 Advisory Board, and today she joins Patrina to discuss in detail the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, and the importance of increasing vaccination access globally.
Lu breaks down the different types of vaccine hesitancy groups, debunks the most common misconceptions held by COVID skeptics, such as insufficient safety trials and fertility concerns, and explains that the greatest risk lies in not being vaccinated at all. Patrina asks Lu about variants and mutations of the virus, current travel advisories, and how to approach loved ones or colleagues who may be skeptical about getting the vaccine. Lu clarifies that even those who have recovered from COVID should still get vaccinated, as they could still become infected with new variants. She talks about what we have learned about COVID since the beginning of the pandemic, being intentional about which risks you decide to take, and protecting your physical health so that you can live your most fulfilled life in every other aspect. Finally, Lu and Patrina both share what is bringing them joy presently, and what they are most looking forward to as the nation continues on this positive trajectory in the fight against COVID.
Episode Highlights:
Luciana (Lu) is an infectious disease physician and public health administrator who has dedicated her career to preparing for epidemics
Patrina and Lu are good friends, and Lu persuaded Patrina from taking a family trip to New York City right as the pandemic was beginning, and very likely saved her life
President Biden’s goal is to have 70% of adults vaccinated for COVID-19 by July 4
Currently, at least 62% of adults over 18 have received at least one dose of the vaccine
Important to keep this in perspective, rather than focusing entirely on vaccine hesitancy
Vaccines are safe, effective, and have been thoroughly tested
Lu is hopeful about where the US currently stands in terms of vaccinations
Biggest challenge now is to scale production so that the rest of the world can benefit from them as well
Vaccine hesitancy should not overshadow that most people are taking the important step to get vaccinated and help save lives
Lu reiterates just how safe the vaccine is, and reminds listeners that the technology behind it has been in development for more than 20 years
The fact that people feel anxious is understandable, but instead of dismissing people who are hesitant, we should focus on how to positively shift their position
Harvard study broke down main “hesitancy” groups
Watchful (80%) - Simply can’t afford to take time off work or leave their children with someone to get vaccinated, even if it’s free
System Destructors (4%) - Do not feel the healthcare system has their best interest at heart and question what strings are attached (largely in Black communities)
COVID Skeptics (14%) - Don’t believe COVID is a real problem to begin with, they want to have full autonomy over decision-making, very difficult to influence
Doctors and healthcare professionals are not immune from being COVID skeptics, and people go to these practitioners to reinforce their hesitancy
Lu’s advice is to try to understand the misconceptions of COVID skeptics
Debunks beliefs that vaccine had insufficient safety trials and negatively impacts fertility
Vaccine meets and exceeds FDA safety standards
The real risk lies in not being vaccinated
Vaccines based in the US are holding up well against new variants and mutations
More important than ever to increase glocal vaccination
34 min