Thread by @ShikhaJainMD

All of this #Djokovic circus has gotten me thinking about the last few years, and why we are where we are today in this pandemic. When we could have potentially been in a better place, with more tools, more protection, and more people still with us. A brief 🧵

The dissemination of inaccurate information online is not something new. The anti-vaccine movement is not new. Celebrities and "medical pundits" trying to repackage snake oil as "all natural cures for all that ail you" are not new. So what is new?

usatoday.com/story/life/ent…

In the last 100 yrs, there has never been an airborne respiratory pathogen, that has impacted every single country and person on the planet simultaneously so significantly. Never, in 100 yrs, has it been more important for science, evidence, facts to ➡️decision making and policy.

Putting aside political or personal beliefs, thinking of the health and wellness of yourself and anyone you may come into contact with, THAT should have been the purpose from the beginning of how we handle this pandemic.

This was an opportunity for our nation, and truly the world, to join together against one common enemy, a virus that does not discriminate. So instead...how did we get here
medscape.com/viewarticle/96… via @Medscape

There are multiple levels to how we got here.
1. As a nation, we were extremely divided at the time this pandemic arrived. This had a huge impact on public health messaging, the ability for science driven coordinated response, major missteps in #SciComm.
statnews.com/2020/05/13/cov…

This has continued to have impacts now 2+ years into the pandemic, with our nation continuing to be so divided, that arguing against the simplest things we know work to stop the spread (wearing a good mask, getting a vaccine, good ventilation) have become political platforms.

2. The rise of the celebrity "expert" and the circus that surrounds their decisions to forego the requirements others must follow to live and exist in society. Recently some athletes have refused to get the vaccine citing misinformation/disinformation
nytimes.com/2021/11/08/spo…

The recent #DjokovicGoHome debacle is just one of multiple celebrities displaying a lack of simple common courtesy, caring for one's fellow man. The old adage of "love thy neighbor" seems to have been replaced with entitlement.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

Now, I played varsity tennis for years, and I can throw and catch a football, but I wouldn't dream of advising pro athletes on their areas of expertise (other than when I am yelling at the television). So how did we become a nation where non-HCW are providing medical advice.

Before I start getting dragged, I want to emphasize that I ENCOURAGE my patients to do their own reading online and bring in questions and ideas, and we work as a team to make a medical plan. What I am talking about it blatant anti-science anti-fact info that is just incorrect.

Those with large platforms have a responsibility to their fans to utilize their large platforms responsibly. If one decides to forego vaccines that are required to engage in athletics, or indoor dining, then they should follow the same rules as everyone else.

These rules are put in place to protect societies, protect communities, and at the end of the day, those communities are also made up of all of our loved ones, famous celebrities included. We are a global world, and especially in the #COVID19 world, our decisions impact others.

3. Social media and the rapid dissemination of both misinformation and disinformation. While there are some wonderful uses to social media (h/t #Medtwitter) there is also the incredible ability for rapid, coordinated misinformation campaigns.
acpinternist.org/archives/2021/…

Unfortunately, it can be incredibly difficult sometimes to figure out online what is fact and what is fiction. The misinformation and disinformation travels so far so fast and in many cases is presented in a way that makes it seem like it may be accurate.

And when information like that is disseminated rapidly, and picked up by the right high profile individuals, the horse it out of the barn, and trying to convince people that what they believe is actually not based in any facts at all, can be a challenge.

4. Especially, over the last few years, vitriol has been directed at the same HCW who are working tirelessly to care for your loved ones. Spending days and nights in the hospital, and then free time trying to educate and spread evidence based messaging, are now met with hate

The anonymity of social media, the polarization of our nation, the fatigue from a pandemic that ebbs and flows, seemingly never ending, has resulted in the loss of some humanity. While this may not be a new phenomenon, it has gotten worse.
statnews.com/2021/01/05/doc…

Gone are the days of the applause and appreciation, replaced by anger and blame, aimed at those very people fighting to try and keep you and your loved ones alive.
insider.com/video-anti-vax…

So why am I writing this late night thread? I still believe in the good in humanity. I still believe that we can reach people with communication, with kindness, with education and spending the time to explain, and answer questions.
wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insi…

At the beginning, there were moments where we felt we may all be in this together. But with each surge, society gets more burned out. But please remember, the HCW taking care of you and your loved ones are also a part of that society. We feel like you do
beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-manag…

And no matter how much we want to pretend the pandemic is over, or we should move on with our lives, when we go into the hospital and see your loved ones gasping for air, in the ICU, unable to see their loved ones, we cannot pretend this pandemic is over.

As much as we want this to be over, we cannot wish it away. The over 850K lives lost in the US and 5.5 M lost worldwide won't be coming back. And if we can use our voices and our platforms to try and educate, and inform, and save the life of your loved one, we will.

So let's try to remember, whether you believe it or not, we truly are all in this together. Because each individuals decisions have an impact on many others. That is how society works. Let's live and exist together, safely, and protect ourselves and one another.