by: Dr. John Wecker, PATH
A makeshift fashion runway. Pulsating music. The flash of strobe lights. The softness from a fog machine. And a dozen leading pediatricians, scientists, and government officials modeling the latest in Filipino designer fashion wear.
That was the scene from an evening gala event at the recent 2nd Asian Vaccine Conference (ASVAC) in Manila, Philippines. It was event intended to inject some levity after a long day of lectures and presentations, and to introduce the audience to an important aspect of Filipino culture (I have come to learn that Filipino women have a strong sense of cultural identity expressed through designer fashion).
Beyond the haute couture, the willingness of these highly accomplished women (and one man) to model designer clothing in front of their colleagues and mentors is an expression of their confidence to move to a place others might find uncomfortable. This willingness to step out of safe boundaries, to go beyond where one’s professional training dictates, will be critical if we are to achieve the challenge set forth this year at ASVAC: Every Vaccine for Everyone: Ensuring Equity. This is a challenge that can only be overcome if scientists join their voices in vaccine advocacy.
For scientists, the beauty is in the complexity. Even the language common to the scientific world – hypothesis testing, statistical significance, confidence intervals – leaves open the possibility for asking one more question and the opportunity to peel back yet another layer of natural wonder.
To health policymakers responsible for life-changing decisions about whether to introduce new interventions, such as a vaccine, the best answers are black and white, yes and no. Will this intervention save lives? Will it save money? How soon will we see the benefit? Is it the best choice that I can make?
The gap arising from these two world views – complexity and certainty – is often an area of indecision and inaction. To bridge that gap, the worlds of science and advocacy must find a way to effectively work together. And I believe that the scientists themselves can play a critical role in taking the first step towards effective dialogue with policymakers.
Scientists are perceived as objective, reliable, and well informed. For them, reducing the mountains of data and the possibility of the unanswered question to a simple message that is relevant for the decision-maker short on time and pressed to act can be an uncomfortable place. To go to that place requires a willingness to become vulnerable and move beyond objective numbers to envision the impact of their data on families, society, and public health.
Access to vaccines, especially in the poorest countries of the world, is often a matter of life and death for children. With so much at stake, ASVAC’s organizers overcame that fear of vulnerability when it comes to speaking passionately about a child’s right to life. It was no wonder that these same pediatricians and scientists were comfortable with a walk down the fashion runway.
It is possible for scientists and researchers around the world to express their commitment to advocating for increased access to vaccines in slightly less dramatic ways than parading down a runway. Simpler actions can demonstrate that same commitment: submit an editorial to a local newspaper about the importance of vaccinating children; speak to politicians about data demonstrating the important role of vaccines in saving lives and reducing suffering; sponsor a local event drawing attention to vaccine-preventable diseases; or work with the local professional society to encourage joining forces with like-minded organizations around the world and building coalitions.
Next stop for me is to attend the 9th International Rotavirus Symposium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Scientists from around the world will come together to share the latest information and data showing that rotavirus is responsible for death and suffering in children, most often in developing countries in Africa and Asia, and that the world can no longer neglect its deadly toll. Most importantly, they will hear that new vaccines against rotavirus are already saving lives and keeping children safe by preventing the most severe forms of the disease. I don’t foresee a runway show at this one, but I do anticipate lively conversations with enthusiastic researchers with voices that—if they are ready to step forward—can carry far beyond the conference hall.
Rotavirus is a deadly disease and vaccines are a proven solution to save the lives of children at risk everywhere. Reason enough to go to a place of discomfort, even if it doesn’t involve the latest fashions.
Dr. John Wecker is the Director of the Vaccine Access and Delivery Global Program, PATH
