January 05, 2024
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all Americans, with unprecedented morbidity and mortality, economic hardship and social stressors.
COVID-19 revealed the best in our health care system, with the development and availability of tests, vaccines and treatments in record time. We continuously digested scientific data to support guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention and management of a brand-new disease.
However, COVID-19 also exposed some important gaps. We learned that communication in a dynamic public health crisis means recruiting trusted local and regional messengers to communicate in ways that people understand in their areas and social structures.
We also learned to admit what we don’t know — as much as standing on what we do know — in a rapidly changing situation, to allow the public to see and trust the scientific process in action.
We learned that managing a pandemic means reaching out to everyone, especially our most vulnerable and medically underserved communities.
Finally, we learned that pandemic response relies on a robust medical and public health infrastructure. Rebuilding those elements and recruiting more public health professionals, clinicians and researchers to the infectious diseases field is a critical task that we must undertake to adequately prepare for the next pandemic.
For more information:
Steven K. Schmitt, MD, FIDSA, is president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and vice chair of the department of infectious diseases at the Cleveland Clinic. He can be reached at [email protected].
[Editor’s note: In the fourth installment of our “Life during COVID” series, we asked experts if the United States is ready for the next pandemic. You can read those responses here .]
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