The Covid -19 Pandemic – a consumer’s perspective
Debra Petrys1
1debra petrys consulting
Has the Covid -19 pandemic changed the way we look at infectious diseases in this country. As consumers what contributed to us making personal decisions during this pandemic including whether to vaccinate or not
Was there really openness and transparency in the information consumers were given or was this manipulated by varying influences that clouded the information presented.
What was done well, what could have been done better to engage with consumers and give them a sense of empowerment and a sense of a way forward during this pandemic.
Did the pandemic bring us closer or divide us as a nation and on a more personal level how did it affect our relationships with family, friends and on a broader perspective the community in which we live.
In November 2021 do we believe there is now a way forward or will that largely be influenced on how we personally were affected during this pandemic and what we are now prepared to accept.
As the consumer advisor on ATAGI (the Australian Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation) for the last 9 years and working as a consumer advocate for many years Debra will discuss these issues and how she believes this pandemic will change the way consumers view a health crisis in the future.
Biography:
With a public health career lasting over 30 years Debra Petrys has worked extensively in the areas of immunisation, quality use of medicine, mental health, aged care and infection control.
Professionally she has had considerable experience in the development and implementation of preventable health programs for consumers, including in multiple languages and for ATSI people at both the state and national level.
Debra has been the consumer advisor for the Australian Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (ATAGI) for the past 9 years, her appointment ending on June 30th 2021, prior to that for the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for 4 years.
The last 9 years she has worked as an independent consultant working for NHMRC, TGA, NPS, and the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Having had links to a broad number of consumer networks Debra is recognised as a strong advocate for consumers within health professional and regulatory environments, therefore is well placed to contribute an informed consumer perspective.