limited set of scientists - profs and PHDs on only previous public list of SAGE members that I can see - this is from the report into 2009 H1N1 swine flu - Health Protection Agency, since abolished and rolled into PHE, also represented: 
There were other committees with wider membership though feeding into Sage such as SPI.. SPI-M on modelling, SPI-B&C on behaviour and comms etc... all scientists though.
In the 22 meetings of SAGE during H1N1 - Department of Health provided secretariat and DH “reps” updated it on “the thinking of ministers” and the civil contingencies committee, and updates on vaccines, licensing and procurement...
So precedent for factual civil service role...
So precedent for factual civil service role...
really good report that - goes through the detail of scientific disagreements, tensions between modellers and public health, devolution issues, comms issues, and the general challenge of deeply uncertain modelling, that then turned out to overestimate problem...
Two takeaways - they only had decent reliable modelling AFTER the first wave struck... but SAGE influencing key decision points, partic around vaccines, who gets priority, etc.. also decisions very centred on quick vaccine - so coronavirus very different...
Bigger point - you’d not use phrase “follow the science” after reading that official report into 2009. Multiple versions of ‘the science’, even in more stable, predictable modeled situation of influenza... listening to medics on ground experience of novel disease - more helpful
Eg would Govt replace “follow the science!” - (scientific consensus? Chief scientist? Modellers? Medical scientist? Data scientist?) with “follow the economics!” and apply to post-Brexit trade policy...?
Other relevant point -
Sage dont have experts to assess economic impact which will clearly form part of judgement as to when and how to lift lockdown, and on occasion possibly have to reapply it. Trade off not direct, but time for a EAGE? Economic Advisory Group on Emergencies?
Sage dont have experts to assess economic impact which will clearly form part of judgement as to when and how to lift lockdown, and on occasion possibly have to reapply it. Trade off not direct, but time for a EAGE? Economic Advisory Group on Emergencies?
Here is that independent 2009 pandemic review by Deirdre Hine - she was also on WATO yday: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
