TY - JOUR
T1 - What Lessons can Be Learned From the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
AU - Quinn, Gerry A.
AU - Connolly, Ronan
AU - ÓhAiseadha, Coilín
AU - Hynds, Paul
AU - Bagus, Philipp
AU - Brown, Ronald B.
AU - Cáceres, Carlos F.
AU - Craig, Clare
AU - Connolly, Michael
AU - Domingo, Jose L.
AU - Fenton, Norman
AU - Frijters, Paul
AU - Hatfill, Steven
AU - Heymans, Raymond
AU - Joffe, Ari R.
AU - Jones, Rosamond
AU - Lauc, Gordan
AU - Lawrie, Therese
AU - Malone, Robert W.
AU - Mordue, Alan
AU - Mushet, Greta
AU - O’Connor, Anton
AU - Orient, Jane
AU - Peña-Ramos, José Antonio
AU - Risch, Harvey A.
AU - Rose, Jessica
AU - Sánchez-Bayón, Antonio
AU - Savaris, Ricardo F.
AU - Schippers, Michaéla C.
AU - Simandan, Dragos
AU - Sikora, Karol
AU - Soon, Willie
AU - Shir-Raz, Yaffa
AU - Spandidos, Demetrios A.
AU - Spira, Beny
AU - Tsatsakis, Aristides M.
AU - Walach, Harald
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025 Quinn, Connolly, ÓhAiseadha, Hynds, Bagus, Brown, Cáceres, Craig, Connolly, Domingo, Fenton, Frijters, Hatfill, Heymans, Joffe, Jones, Lauc, Lawrie, Malone, Mordue, Mushet, O’Connor, Orient, Peña-Ramos, Risch, Rose, Sánchez-Bayón, Savaris, Schippers, Simandan, Sikora, Soon, Shir-Raz, Spandidos, Spira, Tsatsakis and Walach.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), governments around the world implemented an unprecedented array of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. From early 2021, these were accompanied by major population-wide COVID-19 vaccination programmes–often using novel mRNA/DNA technology, although some countries used traditional vaccines. Both the NPIs and the vaccine programmes were apparently justified by highly concerning model projections of how the pandemic could progress in their absence. Efforts to reduce the spread of misinformation during the pandemic meant that differing scientific opinions on each of these aspects inevitably received unequal weighting. In this perspective review, based on an international multi-disciplinary collaboration, we identify major problems with many aspects of these COVID-19 policies as they were implemented. We show how this resulted in adverse impacts for public health, society, and scientific progress. Therefore, we propose seven recommendations to reduce such adverse consequences in the future.
AB - During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), governments around the world implemented an unprecedented array of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. From early 2021, these were accompanied by major population-wide COVID-19 vaccination programmes–often using novel mRNA/DNA technology, although some countries used traditional vaccines. Both the NPIs and the vaccine programmes were apparently justified by highly concerning model projections of how the pandemic could progress in their absence. Efforts to reduce the spread of misinformation during the pandemic meant that differing scientific opinions on each of these aspects inevitably received unequal weighting. In this perspective review, based on an international multi-disciplinary collaboration, we identify major problems with many aspects of these COVID-19 policies as they were implemented. We show how this resulted in adverse impacts for public health, society, and scientific progress. Therefore, we propose seven recommendations to reduce such adverse consequences in the future.
KW - COVID-19
KW - COVID-19 vaccination
KW - epidemiology
KW - mathematical modelling
KW - public health
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008582405
U2 - 10.3389/ijph.2025.1607727
DO - 10.3389/ijph.2025.1607727
M3 - Article
C2 - 40529997
AN - SCOPUS:105008582405
SN - 1661-8556
VL - 70
JO - International Journal of Public Health
JF - International Journal of Public Health
M1 - 1607727
ER -
