Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Robert Califf, M.D., M.A.C.C., is tough to shake.
During a question-and-answer session on Friday, April 29, at Health Journalism 2022 in Austin, he told reporters that after “surviving a harrowing confirmation process,” he is confident in the FDA’s ability to tackle all of the challenges ahead, including food safety, children’s COVID vaccines, and teen vaping, among others.
But he warns of the risk of disinformation and fake news in the health area.
For an agent of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this can already be considered the main cause of death, for example, related to covid-19. After all, it is responsible for the low adherence to immunizations in some communities and the popularity of ineffective treatments against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
“I believe that misinformation is now our leading cause of death,” said FDA cardiologist.
Among the examples of the impact of disinformation on health, Califf highlights:
- Continued hesitation with the Covid-19 vaccine;
- High number of people who “use” the antiparasitic ivermectin against the virus, despite scientific evidence not finding benefits;
- Growth in the use of electronic cigarettes.
FDA against disinformation in the US
“Historically, the FDA has been relatively quiet and puts out definitive information through guidance or labels or regulatory actions … that would be transmitted to consumers and patients through trusted intermediaries. But the world has changed at this point,” added Califf about the moment when disinformation became a potent weapon. In the current scenario, it is still not clear how the agency should behave in the face of current challenges.
With this greater openness and adherence to disinformation, it is already possible to observe some signs in the North American population. According to Califf, life expectancy in the US has dropped more compared to other wealthy nations. The country was also one of the nations with the highest number of deaths from Covid-19.
The FDA agent emphasized the importance of media and fact-checking in combating misinformation. According to Califf, it is critical to prevent click hunting, which involves utilizing startling headlines in reports, and to distribute content responsibly.
“People are distracted and misled by the medical information Tower of Babel,” said Califf, comparing the issue of misinformation to biblical myth and the endless voices that speak but are not heard. Despite the challenges, the agent recalls that journalists have ” an important role here and your work has a tremendous impact on public trust.”
Image Credit: Getty
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