I think one of the biggest failures in the early pandemic response was the messaging around shielding the vulnerable. 🧵
1/6
1/6
It created a culture of us and them. Where some people became defined as weak. As less worthy. As different.
And everyone desperately wanted anything but to be identified as them. Desperately wanted to avoid the marginalisation.
2/6
And everyone desperately wanted anything but to be identified as them. Desperately wanted to avoid the marginalisation.
2/6
Taking steps to reduce one’s risk of infection therefore became equivalent to self-identifying as them.
3/6
3/6
Initially, I believe this deeply rooted fear was part of the reason for the micro aggressions, bullying and harassment seen against those taking precautions.
4/7
4/7
To shun them; to marginalise them further helped increase the metaphorical gap between themselves and the weak.
Distanced them from the identity they so desperately needed to avoid.
5/7
Distanced them from the identity they so desperately needed to avoid.
5/7
So even if FFP2/3 masks correctly would have been communicated to protect against transmission, they became synonymous with an identity people couldn’t fathom adopting.
6/7
6/7
Communication lies at the core of public health. This is the impact of poorly thought-through communication.
PH communication goes beyond the need to be accurate, timely, and transparent. It also must consider the wider cultural changes it generates.
7/7
PH communication goes beyond the need to be accurate, timely, and transparent. It also must consider the wider cultural changes it generates.
7/7
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