It's like during the covid era where CDC and WHO recommended against wearing masks. Anyone dared questioning it was branded anti-sciene.
Once it became clear that it was transmitted by airborne inhalation, that recommendation changed.
The people questioning it were not branded anti-science, they were branded as claiming to know something that was not known, at that time.
If we didn't know, then the correct action would be to exercise pre-caution.
> at that time there was perceived to be a strong likelihood of supply shortages that would affect medical providers worldwide
Then, say that. Instead they specifically recommended against masks and said masks wasn't effective.
COVID is visibly like a flu where people cough. Saying masks doesn't work for flu-like diseases raises red flags... but people who dared questioning it were branded "anti-science".