Keynote: Professor Michael Baker
| Thursday, November 21, 2024 |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
| Plenary Room, Rongomātāne |
Overview
Learning from the Covid-19 pandemic: Insights for Aotearoa New Zealand
Speaker
Michael Baker
Professor of Public Health
University of Otago
Learning from the Covid-19 pandemic: Insights for Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract
There are multiple insights from the Covid-19 pandemic experience in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Probably the most important is the need for an evidence-informed strategy for responding to public health challenges. The Covid-19 elimination strategy minimised the adverse impacts of the pandemic for two years while NZ achieved high vaccination coverage. This vigorous response gave NZ amongst the lowest excess mortality rates of any country during the pandemic.
Other critical lessons were the need for effective delivery of key interventions; the need to focus on equity across the response; anticipating unintended consequences and responding to them; and the need for effective communication to combat disinformation and build trust. Important lessons for the future include the need for effective public health and science infrastructure at all levels within NZ. There is also an increasing need for effective global health institutions, including a stronger mandate and resources for the World Health Organization (WHO). Collectively these capabilities will help meet the need for preparedness and ideally prevention of future threats including catastrophic risks from other pandemics and climate disruption.
Other critical lessons were the need for effective delivery of key interventions; the need to focus on equity across the response; anticipating unintended consequences and responding to them; and the need for effective communication to combat disinformation and build trust. Important lessons for the future include the need for effective public health and science infrastructure at all levels within NZ. There is also an increasing need for effective global health institutions, including a stronger mandate and resources for the World Health Organization (WHO). Collectively these capabilities will help meet the need for preparedness and ideally prevention of future threats including catastrophic risks from other pandemics and climate disruption.
Biography
Professor Michael Baker is a public health physician, epidemiologist, and researcher in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.
He leads the Health Protection Aotearoa Research Centre (HPARC) which is focused on infectious diseases and environmental health. The group has active research projects on respiratory infections, rheumatic fever, improving disease surveillance, and drinking water quality.
Michael took a leading role in shaping New Zealand’s Covid-19 pandemic response, particularly the elimination strategy. He was a member of the Government’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group throughout the pandemic.
Michael has a strong interest in science communication and evidence translation and is the inaugural director of the Public Health Communications Centre Aotearoa (PHCC), which he established in February 2023.
