Authorities should try to address public anxiety
Amid online outrage over the vaccine scandal, facing up to the public opinion would be the right choice. Departments concerned should try to understand the reason behind the outpouring of anger. The vaccine scandal has become a hot topic in WeChat Moments, and everyone knows why: because of our children. When it comes to the safety of children, people are willing to voice their concerns and move into action.
People are sensitive about issues that concern children, such as fake vaccines, child abuse, abductions and trafficking. Unlike child abuse cases, defective vaccines reflect businessmen’s greed for profits and the lack of supervision and regulation.
Vaccines are the greatest invention in medicine and the best gift we can give our children. With the help of vaccines, even the weakest child can fight serious illnesses which have killed human beings for thousands of years.
However, the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine should be the most vital condition. It’s pernicious and unforgivable to accumulate wealth by producing defective vaccines.
The most important thing at the moment is to stem the spread of public fear. People are now distrustful of all domestically-produced vaccines. When they find that faulty vaccine has been injected into hundreds of thousands of children, it’s easy to panic.
To eliminate panic, the department responsible for supervision should answer questions which concern people’s core interest – such as the effectiveness of the faulty vaccine and what should be done to kids who have already been vaccinated.
People tend to be pessimistic amid too much information, and it will cause more trouble if people are too scared to be vaccinated against any disease. Authorities should respond as quickly as possible.
Although inter-department cooperation is necessary, internal coordination shouldn’t be found wanting so that people are kept informed and public opinion doesn’t spiral out of control.
People should also realize that panic won’t help. Public vigilance and criticism should continue and yet people shouldn’t believe lopsided views. Sense shouldn’t give way to sensibility.