Health Literacy: The Common Denominator of Healthcare Progress

Abstract

Perhaps the most important lesson learned from the COVID19 experience is that American health illiteracy kills. From confusion over the value of wearing protective masks and social distancing (How are viruses transmitted?) to vaccine skepticism (How do vaccines work?), from confusion over the value of hydroxychloroquine (How are data collected and what do they mean?) to doubts about the safety and efficacy of products available through Emergency Use Authorizations (How does the US Food and Drug Administration review process work?), the dearth of health literacy has not only slowed down the US response against COVID-19, it has placed thorny societal problems along the path to victory over the virus. Nature abhors a vacuum—and so does social media. Health literacy comprises two parts [2]: