Part 5/7:
Critics have pointed out that the dominance of a zero-COVID approach adopted by health authorities inadvertently labeled dissenters as anti-vaccine radicals, stifling necessary discourse about differing strategies. Furthermore, messaging changed frequently, which generated confusion and frustration about the effectiveness and purpose of lockdowns and vaccinations. These shifting public health targets eroded trust in health officials and institutions, leading to a fragmented public response to guidance and mandates.