I was taught to pay more attention to what individuals do vs. what they say. In my tenure at Insmed, overall the company has done a good job walking the walk, but I think as it pertains to moving forward with COVID, there are issues.
If there was a way to provide this feedback internally, I would. But I know in our environment it would be held against me in one way or another.
The main issue I want to raise is that continuing plans for an off-site national meeting is irresponsible as we try to keep pandemic numbers low. Will, if you really believe in the team and the safety of our patients and customers, pull the plug. If you really care about our young and unvaccinated children, please pull the plug.
For your consideration:
-The pandemic is not over, and the new Delta variant is extremely contagious.
-A national meeting by definition will not allow for adequate social distances.
-Food at these events is typically buffet. These are a conduit for disease in a good year.
-Vaccines: the vaccine can stop the virus from killing us, but there is clear evidence that we can still get COVID to bring home to our families, and customers. Additionally, those who do not want to take a vaccine that has not been fully vetted by the FDA and that demonstrates increasing, but admittedly rare, side effects should not feel forced in our decision. Simply saying it’s not required, then separating individuals into groups based on vaccine status is coercive.
-A national meeting will bring individuals from every state to one location. A lot of these individuals spend their days in pulmonary and infectious disease offices which is exactly where the front line of COVID is fought. Is Insmed really going to make a conscious choice to bring together all of these individuals from areas with varying degrees of infectious activity into one space with close quarters? A place where we are encouraged to raise our voices thus increasing the chances of transmission. For what? So you can slap each other on the back saying “great meeting” while sending us home to our family and communities? Do you really care so little for your own families and communities?
-This meeting can be held effectively and safely in a virtual environment. If Insmed causes one person to get sick by insisting on a live meeting is it worth it? What if someone gets sick and possibly dies either for attending, or as a consequence of someone else getting COVID at the Insmed meeting? Dismiss as dramatic at your own risk, but moving forward means that’s an outcome risk you are willing to gamble on.
-If this meeting does still occur, is Insmed willing to do the right thing and insist all attendees quarantine appropriately after meeting? Will Insmed allow me to expense my personal quarantine at a hotel so I don’t risk infecting my children?
Please look at the press that Biogen received at the beginning of the pandemic when their meeting brought COVID across the country, the world really. Given our current and future focus in pulmonary diseases, do we really want that press? Below is an article on the impact of their meeting. Replace Biogen with Insmed as you read.
1 Year Later: The ‘Superspreader' Conference That Sparked Boston's COVID Outbreak
If there was a way to provide this feedback internally, I would. But I know in our environment it would be held against me in one way or another.
The main issue I want to raise is that continuing plans for an off-site national meeting is irresponsible as we try to keep pandemic numbers low. Will, if you really believe in the team and the safety of our patients and customers, pull the plug. If you really care about our young and unvaccinated children, please pull the plug.
For your consideration:
-The pandemic is not over, and the new Delta variant is extremely contagious.
-A national meeting by definition will not allow for adequate social distances.
-Food at these events is typically buffet. These are a conduit for disease in a good year.
-Vaccines: the vaccine can stop the virus from killing us, but there is clear evidence that we can still get COVID to bring home to our families, and customers. Additionally, those who do not want to take a vaccine that has not been fully vetted by the FDA and that demonstrates increasing, but admittedly rare, side effects should not feel forced in our decision. Simply saying it’s not required, then separating individuals into groups based on vaccine status is coercive.
-A national meeting will bring individuals from every state to one location. A lot of these individuals spend their days in pulmonary and infectious disease offices which is exactly where the front line of COVID is fought. Is Insmed really going to make a conscious choice to bring together all of these individuals from areas with varying degrees of infectious activity into one space with close quarters? A place where we are encouraged to raise our voices thus increasing the chances of transmission. For what? So you can slap each other on the back saying “great meeting” while sending us home to our family and communities? Do you really care so little for your own families and communities?
-This meeting can be held effectively and safely in a virtual environment. If Insmed causes one person to get sick by insisting on a live meeting is it worth it? What if someone gets sick and possibly dies either for attending, or as a consequence of someone else getting COVID at the Insmed meeting? Dismiss as dramatic at your own risk, but moving forward means that’s an outcome risk you are willing to gamble on.
-If this meeting does still occur, is Insmed willing to do the right thing and insist all attendees quarantine appropriately after meeting? Will Insmed allow me to expense my personal quarantine at a hotel so I don’t risk infecting my children?
Please look at the press that Biogen received at the beginning of the pandemic when their meeting brought COVID across the country, the world really. Given our current and future focus in pulmonary diseases, do we really want that press? Below is an article on the impact of their meeting. Replace Biogen with Insmed as you read.
1 Year Later: The ‘Superspreader' Conference That Sparked Boston's COVID Outbreak