Americans used to understand we have to fight contagious diseases. What happened?

When my fellow baby boomers had children in elementary school, the classroom was often referred to as a petri dish where every known contagion was circulating. Kids brought it all home, and home became its own petri dish of contagious diseases. The adults took the contagions to work. Teachers encouraged parents to keep their sick children at home to protect their classmates and stop the spread. Employers urged the sick to protect their co-workers, take their sick leave and stay at home. The phenomenon of contagion seemed to be grasped by the vast majority.

What happened? How, in a substantial segment of society, did we lose our understanding of contagion? How, in a substantial segment of society, did the personal responsibility to protect others be replaced by the “freedom” to endanger others?

Voluntarily staying home — a matter of personal responsibility — was not the only mitigating measure. Schools remained open but only the vaccinated could attend, and the early years classroom became the gatekeeper for preventing disease spread. Smallpox vaccines were still given. Mandated polio, measles, mumps and rubella vaccines eliminated these terrible diseases. Without question, these were grand advances for the sciences and scientifically-informed public health policy.

Today, once again, science has done its part and public health policy is scientifically informed. Missing is a grasp of contagion and concern for others in a significant segment of society. Books have been written and studies have been conducted that corroborate an undercurrent of related sentiments: anti-science, anti-expertise and anti-intellectualism, which can be encapsulated under the recycled rubric of the “dumbing down of America.”

These sentiments are accompanied by a national empathy deficit and a trust deficit in government and institutions. These sentiments appear most associated with a corrosive political ideology. Once-trusted news outlets now present alternative realities that deepen the distrust. The public is left vulnerable to misinformation and conspiracy theory.

Perhaps the most important trend is the empathy deficit for our fellow man when we need it most. One often hears policy positions justified by claims such as, “I’m entitled to my opinion” — and the implication is that opinion is as good as fact. Intelligent discourse is blunted.

What about religious exemptions? Christian Scientists have a longstanding, legitimate claim to religious exemption. It’s in their scripture and in their practice. Some others attempt to hide behind religion, but their previous acceptance of the flu and MMR vaccines exposes the lie. The rationalizations are boundless.

What can be done? It’s easy to concentrate on the negative even when hundreds of millions have been vaccinated, long lines wait hours for COVID-19 tests, and health care professionals stand tall. These represent the majority who grasp contagion and are exercising personal responsibility. They represent hope. But the minority has been immunized against appeals from scientists, experts and intellectuals. The result is that much needed collective action will be stunted by distrust in government and institutions.

What’s the prognosis? The minority’s actions lead to overextended hospitals affecting all and for incalculable harm mostly to themselves. Returning the effects to manageable levels can only come from of the majority’s sustained efforts.