A Statement of Dissent
On October 4, 2020, three scientists—Dr. Martin Kulldorff from Harvard, Dr. Sunetra Gupta from Oxford, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya from Stanford—issued the Great Barrington Declaration. They advocated for an alternative COVID-19 strategy, challenging prevailing public health policies.
Focus on Targeted Protection
The declaration proposed protecting high-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with preexisting conditions, while allowing lower-risk groups to live more normal lives. The authors argued this approach would reduce the broader societal harms caused by lockdowns, including economic and mental health impacts.
Path to Herd Immunity
The declaration suggested that allowing natural infection in lower-risk populations would help achieve herd immunity faster, eventually slowing the virus’s spread. The authors emphasized the importance of balancing public health measures with broader societal needs.
Divisive Reactions
While some supported the declaration for addressing lockdown-related issues, many health officials and organizations criticized it as dangerous and scientifically unsound. The World Health Organization and other experts warned that the plan underestimated risks and potential healthcare system strain, igniting a global debate.
Now president-elect Donald Trump has picked Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s biggest government-funded biomedical research entity.
On October 4, 2020, three scientists—Dr. Martin Kulldorff from Harvard, Dr. Sunetra Gupta from Oxford, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya from Stanford—issued the Great Barrington Declaration. They advocated for an alternative COVID-19 strategy, challenging prevailing public health… pic.twitter.com/hM2mbtNj1y
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) November 27, 2024