Lawmakers voiced concern on Capitol Hill Thursday about the need to "restore" trust in the public for vaccines, which include measles, influenza, and COVID-19.
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00:00 Sometimes we don't know any weaknesses in a system until it is truly tested.
00:05 Now is the time to safeguard for the future and about how we can do better next time
00:12 if there are things we recognize that could have been done better.
00:16 It's now a time to look at the things we did well as well.
00:21 But we need to restore trust in public health in the process.
00:27 I'm very concerned with the hesitancy by so many today to vaccinate their children.
00:33 That's a grave concern of mine.
00:34 VAERS has been the source of attention and controversy since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
00:41 However, concerns about these data are usually met with dismissive replies.
00:47 Unfortunately, they often point to the fact that VAERS is unable to prove causality.
00:52 Today's hearing does have the potential to generate forward-looking policy solutions
00:57 that improve people's lives.
00:59 However, it only does so if we approach this topic with care.
01:03 Because if we don't, I worry that we are opening a Pandora's box that I fear we won't be able to close again.
01:11 Right now, we are already witnessing an alarming rise in overall vaccine hesitancy,
01:16 which has been fueled by myths and disinformation spread online during the last four years.
01:22 I worry that the politicization of medicine, the politicization of science and vaccines
01:28 will ultimately hurt us all in the end.
01:31 And that the manufacturing of distrust in public health norms and institutions
01:37 that we have held true for so long will make us less prepared to combat a future pandemic.
01:42 Vaccines work.
01:45 We know from clear and compelling evidence that vaccines save the lives of millions of
01:49 children and adults every year by producing immune responses that prevent diseases such
01:54 as measles, influenza, and COVID-19.
01:57 Though they may not provide perfect protection, vaccines can often prevent the most serious
02:02 consequences of disease, including hospitalization and death.
02:08 The American public can rest assured that vaccines that are authorized or approved are
02:14 safe and effective.
02:15 Vaccine safety monitoring by CDC and our partners is rigorous and transparent.
02:21 The data continues to show that staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines is an effective
02:27 and safe way to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
02:32 The development and administration of COVID-19 vaccines is a remarkable scientific achievement.
02:38 After the most robust and comprehensive safety monitoring in our history, the science shows
02:44 that we should all have confidence that COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective.
02:50 When you say safe and effective, that's relative in your mind.
02:55 It's relative in your mind, but it's not to the person at home.
03:00 They hear 100% safe and 100% effective.
03:04 That's what they hear.
03:06 This is why words matter.
03:08 Dr. Fauci in his testimony even said you can never say that any treatment is 100% safe.
03:14 Yet, in essence, that's what people heard and are still hearing today.
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