U.S. House Coronavirus Panel Looks to 'Restore Trust' in the American Public for Vaccines

TIME

Lawmakers voiced concern on Capitol Hill Thursday about the need to "restore" trust in the public for vaccines, which include measles, influenza, and COVID-19.

Transcript

00:00 Sometimes we don't know any weaknesses in a system until it is truly tested.

00:05 Now is the time to safeguard for the future and about how we can do better next time

00:12 if there are things we recognize that could have been done better.

00:16 It's now a time to look at the things we did well as well.

00:21 But we need to restore trust in public health in the process.

00:27 I'm very concerned with the hesitancy by so many today to vaccinate their children.

00:33 That's a grave concern of mine.

00:34 VAERS has been the source of attention and controversy since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

00:41 However, concerns about these data are usually met with dismissive replies.

00:47 Unfortunately, they often point to the fact that VAERS is unable to prove causality.

00:52 Today's hearing does have the potential to generate forward-looking policy solutions

00:57 that improve people's lives.

00:59 However, it only does so if we approach this topic with care.

01:03 Because if we don't, I worry that we are opening a Pandora's box that I fear we won't be able to close again.

01:11 Right now, we are already witnessing an alarming rise in overall vaccine hesitancy,

01:16 which has been fueled by myths and disinformation spread online during the last four years.

01:22 I worry that the politicization of medicine, the politicization of science and vaccines

01:28 will ultimately hurt us all in the end.

01:31 And that the manufacturing of distrust in public health norms and institutions

01:37 that we have held true for so long will make us less prepared to combat a future pandemic.

01:42 Vaccines work.

01:45 We know from clear and compelling evidence that vaccines save the lives of millions of

01:49 children and adults every year by producing immune responses that prevent diseases such

01:54 as measles, influenza, and COVID-19.

01:57 Though they may not provide perfect protection, vaccines can often prevent the most serious

02:02 consequences of disease, including hospitalization and death.

02:08 The American public can rest assured that vaccines that are authorized or approved are

02:14 safe and effective.

02:15 Vaccine safety monitoring by CDC and our partners is rigorous and transparent.

02:21 The data continues to show that staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is an effective

02:27 and safe way to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.

02:32 The development and administration of COVID-19 vaccines is a remarkable scientific achievement.

02:38 After the most robust and comprehensive safety monitoring in our history, the science shows

02:44 that we should all have confidence that COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective.

02:50 When you say safe and effective, that's relative in your mind.

02:55 It's relative in your mind, but it's not to the person at home.

03:00 They hear 100% safe and 100% effective.

03:04 That's what they hear.

03:06 This is why words matter.

03:08 Dr. Fauci in his testimony even said you can never say that any treatment is 100% safe.

03:14 Yet, in essence, that's what people heard and are still hearing today.

03:20 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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