AUTHOR=Quinn Gerry A. , Connolly Ronan , ÓhAiseadha Coilín , Hynds Paul , Bagus Philipp , Brown Ronald B. , Cáceres Carlos F. , Craig Clare , Connolly Michael , Domingo Jose L. , Fenton Norman , Frijters Paul , Hatfill Steven , Heymans Raymond , Joffe Ari R. , Jones Rosamond , Lauc Gordan , Lawrie Therese , Malone Robert W. , Mordue Alan , Mushet Greta , O’Connor Anton , Orient Jane , Peña-Ramos José Antonio , Risch Harvey A. , Rose Jessica , Sánchez-Bayón Antonio , Savaris Ricardo F. , Schippers Michaéla C. , Simandan Dragos , Sikora Karol , Soon Willie , Shir-Raz Yaffa , Spandidos Demetrios A. , Spira Beny , Tsatsakis Aristides M. , Walach Harald 

TITLE=What Lessons can Be Learned From the Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 70 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2025.1607727

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2025.1607727

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020COVID-19 pandemic ( -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 programsoften using novel mRNA/DNA technology, although some countries used traditional vaccines. Both the NPIs and the vaccine programs 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 negative impacts for public health, society, and scientific progress. Therefore, we propose seven recommendations to reduce such adverse consequences in the future