I'm sorry, but not surprised you're getting comments like these. Few understand what it's like to be in the public health workforce. I became an ad hoc member with the onset of COVID, and have also received similar attacks but I'm not quite as prominent as you. There's no good reason for people to do that, but they've decided the work we do is not what they want or like. In a lot of cases, I think, it's because they think we've intentionally misled them when in fact, the information on COVID was so prolific that getting a single coherent account out was nearly impossible, AND professional opinions and impressions changed daily with new information. Most of the public seem to think the things we deal with are clear, straightforward and binary. Instead, my first solid recommendation during the pandemic was based on 3 confirmed cases, widely separated across the state, but with no obvious connections: I recommended suspending a major group activity because I was convinced we were already in community spread, and while my leadership followed my recommendation, others in the organization were highly critical. We led the country by about 4 weeks in terms of recognition.
I don't know what it's going to take to change things. I wish I did.
I'm sorry, but not surprised you're getting comments like these. Few understand what it's like to be in the public health workforce. I became an ad hoc member with the onset of COVID, and have also received similar attacks but I'm not quite as prominent as you. There's no good reason for people to do that, but they've decided the work we do is not what they want or like. In a lot of cases, I think, it's because they think we've intentionally misled them when in fact, the information on COVID was so prolific that getting a single coherent account out was nearly impossible, AND professional opinions and impressions changed daily with new information. Most of the public seem to think the things we deal with are clear, straightforward and binary. Instead, my first solid recommendation during the pandemic was based on 3 confirmed cases, widely separated across the state, but with no obvious connections: I recommended suspending a major group activity because I was convinced we were already in community spread, and while my leadership followed my recommendation, others in the organization were highly critical. We led the country by about 4 weeks in terms of recognition.
I don't know what it's going to take to change things. I wish I did.
Thanks Gerry for your support and encouragement. I agree that transparency about what we are learning in real time is crucial!