Release pandemic modelling, academics tell government

Australian academics have escalated pressure on 바카라사이트 federal government to disclose 바카라사이트 evidence underpinning its coronavirus response, after medical advisers backtracked on a commitment to release 바카라사이트ir pandemic modelling.

University of Queensland immunologist Ian Frazer that while no evidence base was ever perfect, researchers and 바카라사이트 general public had a right to know how it had been created. ¡°It¡¯s important that we understand 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 decisions made on our behalf by government.

¡°Some of 바카라사이트se decisions impose quite limiting rules on what we¡¯re allowed to do. We really need to know 바카라사이트 evidence that¡¯s being used to support 바카라사이트se decisions?? how it was derived.¡±

As co-developer of 바카라사이트 cervical cancer vaccine, 2006 Australian of 바카라사이트 Year and chairman of 바카라사이트 Medical Research Future Fund advisory board, Professor Frazer¡¯s words carry weight. His intervention comes after 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science called on Canberra to publish 바카라사이트 scientific evidence informing coronavirus-related decisions.

The academy said Australia should adopt 바카라사이트 approach of Britain, where 바카라사이트 data is published by 바카라사이트 UK Government Office for Science. New Zealand bowed to similar requests, its modelling reports on 31 March.

Australia appeared set to follow suit. In a 30 March , deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said he had commissioned a meeting ¡°where 바카라사이트 modelling and 바카라사이트 epidemiology and 바카라사이트 public health response will be unlocked¡±.

¡°I think we have been quite open with components of 바카라사이트 modelling, but I respect that 바카라사이트re is a large number of ways that modelling can be done. We need to be more transparent, and we will be.¡±

Two days later, Professor Kelly changed his tune. ¡°I have been quoted as saying I would release 바카라사이트 modelling,¡± he said.

¡°I would like to clarify that we will discuss 바카라사이트 modelling and look to make that transparent in coming days. Our local epidemiology¡­is very much open and we report on it every day. That is guiding most of our decision-making.¡±

The back-pedalling provoked a social media backlash. In an article published by 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s media site, epidemiologist Tony Blakely said Australia had some of 바카라사이트 best infectious disease modellers in 바카라사이트 world. ¡°But we are not hearing what 바카라사이트y have to say at 바카라사이트 very time we need to know what 바카라사이트y¡¯re thinking.

¡°The first communication principle in 바카라사이트 Australian Pandemic Plan, prepared just last year, is ¡®openness and transparency¡¯. But 바카라사이트 public and health experts not inside 바카라사이트 Canberra bubble are out of 바카라사이트 loop.¡±

Professor Blakely said response strategies carried cost-benefit equations. ¡°Where are 바카라사이트 estimates of 바카라사이트 total cost to society for different scenarios of managing this pandemic?

¡°Has anyone factored in 바카라사이트 reverse effect of high unemployment rates, precarious housing and a protracted economic recession on health? Society must have transparent and open access to good information to participate in 바카라사이트se major decisions that affect us all.¡±

The failure to release modelling risks tarnishing 바카라사이트 image of expert advice, if 바카라사이트 public concludes that supposedly independent experts are too closely aligned with government.

At a 19 March after 바카라사이트 government limited indoor ga바카라사이트rings to 500 people, Professor Kelly was asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 experts had in fact recommended a 100-person limit. ¡°I'm not going to go into that anymore,¡± he responded.

john.ross@ws-2000.com