Impact, pay-offs, value-creating – in what ways can ethnological research influence pandemic preparedness and management?

During the A(H1N1) pandemic 2009-2010, all Swedish citizens were recommended vaccination with the influenza vaccine Pandemrix. However, a very serious and unexpected side effect emerged: more than 300 children and young adults were diagnosed with narcolepsy after vaccination. Besides the tragic outcome for these children and their families, this adverse side effect suggests future difficulties in obtaining trust in pandemic preparedness and precautionary measures  in case of emerging health threats. In this article I will use qualitative interviews with individuals from the following three groups comprising different formations of the pandemic: a) authorities, policymakers, and decision-makers, b) narcolepsy families,  and c) health care workers and medical researchers. Ethnological questionnaires were also sent out to a broader Swedish public audience. The article discusses how the results can have an impact on pandemic preparedness and management. The concept of impact is discussed from the point-of-view of innovation- and challenge-driven research politics that has been dominant for several years. Five different themes are discussed: 1) Reflexivity among policy- and decision-making, 2) Historical and European comparisons to create a broader context for pandemic preparedness, 3) Improved communication and broadening of competencies within pandemic preparedness, 4) Using networks to gain new knowledge about spreading of pandemic influenza, and 5) Acknowledgment, knowledge support and contextualization for families with narcoleptic children.