WHO’s Mike Ryan Criticizes School Closures During Pandemic

Dr. Mike Ryan, deputy director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic had a “hugely detrimental effect” on children. He emphasized that the WHO never recommended lockdowns as a strategy, contrary to widespread governmental actions that led to significant disruptions in education.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland programme, Dr. Ryan clarified that lockdowns were a construct devised by individual countries. He explained, “We always advised targeted measures that allowed you to reduce transmission while keeping society moving forward.” He acknowledged there were exceptional circumstances where lockdowns may have been warranted, but he criticized the blanket approach that kept children out of school for extended periods.

Dr. Ryan highlighted the lack of clear evidence supporting the closure of schools, stating, “The benefit of that, specifically, of closing schools, has not been clearly demonstrated.” He also pointed out that the perception of children as significant vectors of the virus was misguided, as data does not support this view.

In his role as executive director of the WHO’s health emergencies programme, Dr. Ryan played a pivotal part in the international response to Covid-19. He addressed the rise of the anti-vaccine movement, acknowledging that such views gained traction during the pandemic. He urged the public to remember the critical role of vaccinations in public health, stating, “Vaccines have saved more lives on this planet than any other intervention in the history of our civilisation.”

Reflecting on the historical context of vaccinations, he urged listeners to consider the devastating impacts of diseases like diphtheria and polio, particularly on children. “Ask those mothers or fathers, as they watched their children die under five years of age, what they thought about vaccinations,” he said.

Dr. Ryan underscored the importance of questioning medical interventions while advocating for trust in scientific data. He remarked, “It’s very important that we have a healthy debate, but we also need to trust science and trust when the data tells us that these are safe and highly effective interventions.”

When discussing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dr. Ryan expressed frustration at the international community’s inability to deliver aid. He stated he was “apoplectic” about the situation, noting that Gaza is accessible from multiple countries but aid is still not reaching those in need. Dr. Ryan emphasized the suffering of children in the region, remarking, “The children of Gaza are being intentionally starved as a weapon of war.”

Dr. Ryan is currently in Dublin to attend the Government’s National Child Poverty Summit. He will retire from his role at the WHO at the end of the week. He warned that the international community, including Ireland, is failing to invest adequately in its children. He stated that poverty should not only be measured in financial terms but also by the potential risks to society.

“We fail to see that the most dangerous thing to our civilisation in society is someone with nothing left to lose, and we’re leaving a lot of children behind us,” he said.

Amid speculation regarding his future, Dr. Ryan dismissed rumors of a potential presidential run in Ireland but expressed hope that the campaign could reaffirm important societal values without devolving into personal attacks.

His remarks come at a critical time when the implications of pandemic responses are being scrutinized, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to public health and education.