By Annalise Johns

Five years ago this month, the world was grappling with how to best navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, as we reflect on the experiences and lessons learned, it’s clear that the pandemic not only exposed significant vulnerabilities but also spurred innovations and improvements in key areas. 

Addressing Inequality and Vulnerabilities 

The pandemic underscored the deep inequalities in society, particularly across the social determinants of health. One of the most striking lessons was the disproportionate impact on older populations. For example, 81%¹ of COVID-related deaths occurred among individuals over 65, highlighting the vulnerability of this age group. 

The pandemic also revealed the critical role that housing plays in shaping health outcomes². People’s living conditions were shown to significantly influence their exposure to the virus. Similarly, Black and minority communities were disproportionately affected, both in terms of contracting and transmitting COVID-19. Ethnic minority groups faced unique challenges, such as a higher likelihood of providing unpaid care, experiencing income loss, and struggling with food insecurity—issues they faced at twice the rate of their counterparts. 

The Acceleration of Technology 

Technology adoption was rapidly accelerated as the “new normal” during the pandemic. Prior to this, professional development in tech use was less widespread. However, the pandemic led to an explosion of digital experimentation³ in many sectors. Although this was mainly seen in industries where it was feasible, it sparked a wider conversation about employment rights, including the need for flexible working requests to become a right for all workers⁴. 

Moreover, the pandemic spurred innovations like telehealth, which became a vital tool for continuing medical care while minimizing exposure to the virus. The rapid adoption of digital technologies during this time marked a transformative shift in healthcare delivery. 

Enhanced Communication and Data Sharing 

The pandemic also highlighted the importance of communication as a tool for collaborative data collection, sharing, and analysis. This process was essential in creating what is now known as a “dedicated evidence synthesis function⁵,” which combines data from various sectors and disciplines to support decision-making and policy development. 

One notable example is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) focus on “sustainable infectious disease surveillance.” Following the pandemic, this surveillance function has become a cornerstone of global health efforts. Currently, 41% of countries in the Western Pacific and 96%⁶ of countries in Europe have implemented these measures. Innovations like early detection through wastewater monitoring—where viral RNA can be detected to identify community-level transmission—are now crucial tools in controlling outbreaks. 

While the standardization of these processes is ongoing, the WHO continues to refine global health protection systems, contributing to a more resilient health infrastructure. 

Looking Ahead: The Role of IHUL 

The Institute for Healthy Urban Living (IHUL) is proud to support the launch of the WHO’s new Guidance on Health Practitioner Regulation. This guidance is another example of how the WHO helps improve health protection by uniting shared information across borders. 

To highlight the importance of this guidance, IHUL will host one of the authors at the New Cavendish Campus on February 28th. This free event will showcase how, in a post-COVID world, healthcare innovations are shared, discussed, and made accessible to all. 

As we continue to move forward, both the WHO and IHUL remain focused on addressing the health inequalities that persist in society. By empowering communities with the tools, information, and services needed for healthier lives, we aim to build on the lessons of the pandemic to create a more equitable and resilient global health system. 

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1. https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2021/HEAJ8932-COVID-Impact-210705.pdf ↩︎
2. https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/covid-19-and-wellbeing-inequalities-housing/#:~:text=Poor%20housing%20conditions%20and%20housing,of%20catching%2Fpassing%20on%20Covid. ↩︎
3. https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/publications/policyreports/policy-report-economic-challenges-post-covid-era/economic_challenges_and_success_in_the_post-covid_era_chapter_2.pdf?utm_content=buffer57cc7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#:~:text=The%20proportion%20of%20working%20adults,to%20work%20outside%20their%20home. ↩︎
4. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9391/CBP-9391.pdf ↩︎
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003335062300392X ↩︎
6. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/emergencies/20241224_covid-19_epi_update_special-edition.pdf?download=true&sfvrsn=b0a6ddaf_1&utm_source=chatgpt.com ↩︎