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Mastering the art of persuasion during a pandemic

Health policymakers need to cultivate social trust and plan effective communication strategies well before the next infectious disease goes global.
  1. Elizabeth Svoboda

    1. Elizabeth Svoboda is a science writer in San Jose, California.

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Conceptual illustration showing a woman being directed by a huge female hand pointing to a vaccine vial

Credit: Sam Falconer

When Robb Willer looks back on the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic — when leaders still had a chance to stop the virus from bringing the world to a halt — there’s a fateful moment that stands out. In February 2020, global health authorities spoke in one voice, advising the public not to wear masks to prevent infection.

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Nature 610, S34-S36 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-03354-8

This article is part of Nature Outlook: Pandemic preparedness, an editorially independent supplement produced with the financial support of third parties. About this content.

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