Evaluation of science advice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

• DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01097-5
• Publication Date: 2022-03-22T11:03:09Z
• Authors: Nele Brusselaers; David Steadson; Kelly Bjorklund; Sofia Breland; Jens Stilhoff Sör...; Andrew Ewing; Sigurd Bergmann; Gunnar Steineck
• Keywords: Pandemic; Ignorance

Abstract Sweden was well equipped to prevent the pandemic of COVID-19 from becoming serious. Over 280 years collaboration between political bodies, authorities, and scientific community had yielded many successes in preventive medicine. Sweden’s population is literate has a high level trust authorities those power. During 2020, however, ten times higher death rates compared with neighbouring Norway. In this report, we try understand why, using narrative approach evaluate Swedish policy role evidence integrity. We argue that methodology not followed by major figures acting authorities—or responsible politicians—with alternative narratives being considered as valid, resulting arbitrary decisions. 2014, Public Health Agency, after 5 rearrangement, merged Institute for Infectious Disease Control, six professors leaving 2010 2012 going Karolinska Institute. With setup, authority lost expertise. The strategy seemed targeted towards “natural” herd-immunity avoiding societal shutdown. Agency labelled advice national scientists international extreme positions, media bodies accept their own instead. people were kept ignorance basic facts such airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission, asymptomatic individuals can be contagious face masks protect both carrier others. Mandatory legislation seldom used; recommendations relying upon personal responsibility without any sanctions norm. Many elderly administered morphine instead oxygen despite available supplies, effectively ending lives. If wants do better future pandemics, method must re-established, least within Agency. It would likely make large difference if separate, independent Control recreated. recommend begins self-critical process about its culture lack accountability decision-makers avoid failures, occurred pandemic.