Science Is Science: Navigating Clinical Trust Amid Political Shifts
Su H Wang, MD, FACP, MPH discusses combating vaccine misinformation, preventing outbreaks, and highlighting global health interconnectedness
Recent changes in US health policy have raised serious concerns within the global health community. In a recent Lancet correspondence, Su H Wang, MD, FACP, MPH, and fellow clinicians and public health experts highlighted the alarming impact of the US administration’s decisions to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), halt vital CDC communications, and freeze foreign aid. These actions have placed international health partnerships at risk and threaten progress made in disease control, particularly for vulnerable populations worldwide.1
Experts agree that swift action is needed to restore these programs and safeguard the progress made in global health. The freezing of foreign aid, particularly programs like PEPFAR, which supports more than 20 million people, is of particular concern. The current situation is a stark reminder of how interconnected the world’s health systems are and how vulnerable these systems are to political shifts.1
In Part 2 of our interview with Wang, the discussion shifted to the impact of these policy changes on vaccine strategies2 and public health communication, with a focus on maintaining public trust in vaccines. Wang highlighted the role of clinicians in combating vaccine misinformation and reinforcing the importance of vaccines as life-saving tools. “We’ve seen time and time again that it’s not always the facts that sway people, but the messages they hear from friends and family,” Wang explained. “Clinicians need to be ready to counter misinformation with stories that show how vaccines have saved lives.”
Wang offered examples of how the MMR vaccine has played a key role in preventing devastating diseases like measles encephalitis3, and how the Hepatitis B vaccine has contributed to a significant decline in liver cancer rates.4 "Vaccines prevent more than just immediate diseases—they prevent long-term health complications that can affect entire generations. The Hepatitis B vaccine alone has made incredible strides in reducing liver cancer rates, and reversing that progress would be catastrophic,” Wang said.
The conversation then turned to the average American's potentially nonintentional lack of awareness about global health systems and how they contribute to the consequences of these policy shifts. Wang pointed out that many people in the US fail to recognize the broader systems that support public health—systems that rely on international cooperation and funding. “What we’re seeing is that there’s a sense that if it doesn’t happen in my neighborhood, within my country’s boundaries, it doesn’t affect me,” Wang said. “But the reality is, global health is interconnected. Epidemics in one part of the world can, and do, affect us here in the US in ways we don’t often realize.”
“If you go into a hospital, all the devices you use have been approved, and there are complex systems in place to ensure your safety, from blood donation screenings to medication approvals,” Wang explained. “These systems, though often invisible, are crucial to our well-being. And when we ignore them, we risk undermining the very protections that keep us safe.”
Wang also emphasized the importance of clear communication in maintaining public trust, particularly in times of political uncertainty. “At times like these, good reporting and journalism are more important than ever. It's crucial that we share information from reputable sources and make sure the truth gets out to wider audiences,” she said. “But it’s not just the media’s job—each of us has a role to play in our own spheres, whether it's within our families, communities, or patient populations.”
Addressing the growing vaccine hesitancy in the US, Wang warned of the potential consequences of reversing vaccination progress. “If we backslide, we’ll see outbreaks of diseases we thought were eradicated. Polio, measles, and Hepatitis B will make a comeback,” she said. "Our children, our future generations, will bear the brunt of this. We've made so much progress, especially with vaccines like Hepatitis B, which has dramatically reduced acute cases and prevented liver cancer. Reversing that progress would be disastrous.”
WHO reported that measles cases increased globally from 8·6 million in 2022 to 10.3 million in 2023.5 Now, concerns about the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, where children have fallen ill.6 “Measles is incredibly transmissible, and this outbreak is a stark reminder of the consequences of vaccine reluctance,” she said. “These outbreaks could be avoided if we stay vigilant and continue to communicate the importance of vaccines.”
Wang summarized, "Some of what’s happening in politics is politics. But we must keep science, science. We need to reassure people that vaccines are safe, and that science stands firm even in the face of political transitions."
Listen to the first part of our interview here: US Health Policy Changes Threaten Global Public Health Cooperation
