National Academies leaders speak out on COVID science, trust, vaccines as controversies and toll accumulate

On Sept. 24 President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Martha McNutt and President of National Academy of Medicine Victor Dzau, issued the public statement “NAS and NAM Presidents Alarmed by Political Interference in Science Amid Pandemic.”

They emphasize the essential importance of “science-based decision-making” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, they cite “important decisions ahead of us, especially concerning the efficacy and safety of vaccines”.

Not specifically cited are COVID-19 controversies involving hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, convalescent plasma, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests, imported and re-used N-95 respirators, surgical masks to protect health care personnel from SARS-CoV-2, widespread use of facial coverings to help prevent asymptomatic persons from spreading the virus to others, marketed but not validated SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests, guidance on testing asymptomatic persons (or not), aerosol transmission (or not) as well as droplet transmission of the virus, “herd immunity” (community immunity), interpretations of the variety of T-cell tests, infection and transmission involving children, and truthful explanations for the SARS-CoV-2 infections of at least U.S.165,435 health care personnel, among whom at least 720 have died as of today, Sept. 26, according to the CDC website.