How Much Do We Trust Science and Health Worldwide?

The COVID-19 Pandemic, with new coronavirus variants as of April 2021, is experiencing the global 3rd wave, and only countries taking vaccination seriously have begun to smile a little.

• England, by giving 45% of its population at least 1 dose, reached its lowest daily deaths since the pandemic began this week (2762 new cases and 26 deaths).
• Israelvaccinated more than 60% of its population and clearly controlled the pandemic.
• The USA , despite its large population, vaccinated more than 30% and controlled the 3rd wave.
• Turkey could begin its broad campaign only last week, and frankly we were late. We are only now approaching the 3rd-wave peak. As of 5 April, with 42 thousand new cases, we rank 3rd globally for daily cases. On 5 April, 268 thousand vaccinations were given here. On 5 April, China gave 4.7 million, the USA 3.08 million, India 2.6 million and Brazil 480 thousand doses.

Although vaccination is the only way to control the pandemic and return to the old normal, we repeatedly witness unnecessary vaccine debates. These are not new, as the historical examples below show. But during the COVID-19 year, misinformation and delusions cost thousands of lives.

First, the claim that "vaccine side effects are never explained" is empty and harmful. Everyone knows even simple medicines list dozens of side effects. No sensible scientist or doctor has said coronavirus vaccines have none. The critical point is that their life-saving benefits vastly outweigh potential side effects.

When developing a treatment / drug, human experiments called clinical trials first assess safety rather than efficacy. Safety is the greatest priority. Early stages involving few volunteers are called phase-1. If phase-1 finds the candidate safe, with benefits outweighing side effects, later stages test effectiveness.

All currently used coronavirus vaccines (BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson) passed international phase-III trials, demonstrating safety and effectiveness in humans. Levels differ, but studies clearly show benefits far exceed potential risks. Consequently, the USA, Israel and United Kingdom, vaccinating with multiple products, are moving toward substantial relief.

• Related topic: Can Cancer Patients Receive a Covid-19 Vaccine?

The Question of Trust in Science

Health is a personal experience, a social issue and a global problem.

Wellcome Trustis a London-based research organization. Its stated aim is "to achieve extraordinary improvements in health by supporting bright minds" and, beyond funding biomedical research, support and develop public understanding of science. In 2018, with a budget of £25.9 billion, it was the world’s fourth-wealthiest charitable research organization. Founded in 1936 through pharmaceutical pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome’s legacy, it funds human and animal health research. In June 2019, Welcome Trust published an important report spanning more than 140 countries, Wellcome Global Monitor . It examined worldwide public perspectives on science and health. Before discussing its main findings, we offer a short history.

Game Builder – Science Builder: Sir Henry Wellcome

Henry Wellcome was born on the American frontier in 1853. Pharmacy fascinated him young. In 1880, he moved to England with old friend Silas Burroughs to found a drug company that would soon become multinational.

Wellcome became a leader in British pharmaceuticals. He founded two laboratories, one for physiology and one for chemistry, proving they could improve drug research results.

Scientists he funded developed antitoxins for tetanus, diphtheria and gas gangrene and isolated histamine, insulin and many other drugs.

Wellcome was also a great collector, fascinated across the ages by the art and science of healing . He collected medical history objects; at death, his collection exceeded even Europe’s most famous museums.

Before dying, he requested a charity funded through company capital.

Wellcome Global Monitor – 2018

Wellcome Trust explained the report’s purpose: "However great your idea, exciting your treatment or sound your science, it must be accepted by those who benefit. Vaccines, for example, are among our strongest and most effective public health tools, but people need to feel and know they will benefit." Assessing public perspectives was therefore crucial. The organization compiled data from interviews and surveys in more than 140 countries with over 140.000 participants. "Regional differences in attitudes were fascinating, but similarities were equally striking."

Main findings from part 1 include:

• Wherever they are, people want to know more about science and health!
• 75% trust their country’s health system.
• Almost everywhere, men were more likely than women to seek scientific information, even with equal access.
• Nearly two-thirds worldwide (62%), particularly people in low-income countries (72%), wanted to learn more about science.
• Basic concepts of "science" were not fully understood even in high-income countries. Nonunderstanding was 32% in Central Africa, falling to 2% in North America and much of Europe.
• Globally, 28% recently sought scientific information, of whom 41% wanted it on medicine, disease or health.
• Regarding trust in scientists and health professionals globally:
  • 18% had "high" trust in scientists,
  • 54% "medium" trust,
  • 14% "low" trust and 13% were undecided.
• Worldwide, 73% would trust doctors or nurses more than family, friends, religious leaders or celebrities.
  • This was below 65% in East Asia and the Middle East,
  • rising to 90% in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
• Worldwide, eight in ten (84%) trusted medical & health advice from professionals such as doctors and nurses, versus 76% for the same advice from government.
• About seven in ten thought science benefited them, but only four in ten thought it benefited everyone in their country.
• South Americans believed science benefited them personally or societallynot, with the lowest trust rate of 25%.
• Across more than 140 countries, French respondents were most likely to see science and technology as threats to local jobs.
• Western and Eastern Europe were the most pessimistic regions about science and technology taking away employment.
• Among people with religious affiliation:
  • 55% thought religion conflicted with science,
  • 29% leaned toward science,
  • 13% said their view depended on circumstances.
• The highest reported science-religion conflict among religious people was in the USA and Southern Europe (59%).
• Among religious people, 64 percent would choose religion over science when conflicted.

Attitudes Toward Vaccines

• Worldwide:
  • Eight in ten (79%) thought vaccines safe.
  • 11% were undecided
  • 3% considered them unsafe.
• In high-income regions, 72% in North America and 73% in Northern Europe agreed vaccines were safe;
  • in Western Europe, 59%,
  • and Eastern Europe, only 50%.
• Trust in low-income regions:
  • 95% in South Asia and
  • 92% in East Africa supported vaccine necessity.
• In France, one in three considered vaccines unsafe, the highest rate!
• Worldwide, 92% of parents used vaccines to prevent childhood diseases; 6% could not, and 2% did not know.
• Despite high awareness, the highest proportions unable to vaccinate were in South Africa (9%) and East and Southeast Asia (8%).

We Believe the Main Reason for Negative Vaccine Attitudes Is That Developed Societies Have Forgotten What Disease Is Like

Because children do not develop meningitis, people seem to forget vaccines’ importance. Societies not facing measles seem to think they do not need vaccination because they have forgotten the disease. In Africa, a mother may walk kilometers in the heat for measles vaccination because she sees many examples of deaths around her.

• Related topic: Forgetting What Disease Looks Like Thanks to Vaccines 

How Was Wellcome Global Monitor Prepared?

Wellcome Trust worked with Gallup, a consultancy providing analysis and advice to solve urgent organizational and leadership problems. With over 80 years’ experience, it has a larger global information network than other organizations. Global science and health attitudes were studied for the first time among people over 15, in more than 140 countries with over 140.000 interviews. Questions were first tested in 7 countries: Colombia, India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. A pilot then involved 10 countries, 50 languages and 50 people in each: China, Colombia, Egypt, France, India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam. Data collection then covered over 140 countries. Results were analyzed in early 2019 and published in mid-2019.

• September 2017 - March 2018: Survey development and testing
• April-December 2018: Data collection in over 140 countries
• January - May 2019: Analysis
• June 2019: Publication

The survey covered trust in science, knowledge of scientists and health, understanding and interest, benefits of science, harmony of religion and science, and vaccine attitudes. It examined effects of nationality, sex, income and education.

Why Study Global Public Attitudes Toward Science?

Science changes understanding and creates discoveries and technologies affecting lives and societies. Evidence shows access and participation are affected by major inequalities in sex, income and education. Our next article will present other report sections and commentary.

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• Related topic: Scientific Knowledge and Evidence-Based Medicine! Science Begins with Wanting to Know