Pandemic preparedness: why humanities and social sciences matter

TL;DR

This paper argues that humanities and social sciences are crucial for pandemic preparedness and should be more closely integrated with public health efforts.

Contribution

The paper proposes a new approach to pandemic preparedness by integrating humanities and social sciences through cross-disciplinary research examples.

Findings

Humanities and social sciences provide essential insights into public responses to disease and interventions.

Cross-disciplinary research on vaccine hesitancy in South Africa and the UK demonstrates the value of integrating these fields.

Current pandemic preparedness efforts risk excluding vital perspectives from humanities and social sciences.

Abstract

Whilst many lessons were learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing reflection is needed to develop and maintain preparedness for future outbreaks. Within the field of infectious disease and public health there remain silos and hierarchies in interdisciplinary work, with the risk that humanities and social sciences remain on the epistemological peripheries. However, these disciplines offer insights, expertise and tools that contribute to understanding responses to disease and uptake of interventions for prevention and treatment. In this Perspective, using examples from our own cross-disciplinary research and engagement programme on vaccine hesitancy in South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK), we propose closer integration of expertise, research and methods from humanities and social sciences into pandemic preparedness.