FDA Commissioner Martin Makary discussed the necessity for government agencies to demonstrate increased humility and transparency to rebuild public trust in health guidance. Makary stated that public trust in such guidance has significantly diminished since the pandemic.
Communication on COVID-19 Vaccinations
Makary addressed a recent controversy involving an FDA memo that cited rare reports of child deaths associated with COVID-19 vaccinations. He indicated that this information was not novel but had not been publicly disseminated. Makary argued that officials did not clearly communicate how risks varied based on age and underlying health conditions, despite the vaccines' role in saving lives. He characterized the act of issuing recommendations with