The Pandemic Years

Living through a pandemic for more than two years has highlighted how connected we are, how resilient we can be, and how far we still have to go for an equitable world.

The next chapter

Experts explore global health equity, relaxing restrictions, and the evolution of the contagion.

Health care heroes

From pioneering vaccine research to providing life-saving care, these 蜜桃影像 community members, along with countless others around the world, rose to the challenge of this pandemic.

Kizzmekia Corbett

She played a key role in developing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Now at the 蜜桃影像 Chan School, she鈥檚 turning to the pathogens that may spark the next pandemic.

Rochelle Walensky

Rochelle Walensky, who became an expert in viral testing, prevention, and treatment through her work against AIDS, was appointed聽director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in December of 2020.

Dan Barouch

Dan Barouch, a 蜜桃影像 Medical School professor and researcher, was recognized for his work on one of three vaccines against COVID-19 approved for use in the U.S.

Marcella Alsan

Marcella Alsan, the first serving professor at 蜜桃影像 Kennedy School to win the MacArthur 鈥済enius grant,鈥� recently investigated health inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthony Fauci

Throughout the pandemic, Anthony Fauci spoke at many 蜜桃影像 events, helping people understand the virus, the vaccine, and more.

Frontline workers

Fourteen nurses working at four 蜜桃影像-affiliated hospitals reflect on life and working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The heroes behind the heroes

When 蜜桃影像 officials transitioned the University to remote learning in the spring of 2020, there were some people who needed to stay.

Addressing inequities

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted communities across the globe in different ways. Disparities in healthcare, resources, and economic support became more evident as the virus progressed.

Racial disparities

With the spread of COVID, “racism鈥攏ot race鈥攊s the risk factor,” said Aaron Bernstein, interim director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment.

Incarcerated persons

Citing the threat of COVID-19, researchers urged policy changes to ease prison crowding.

Native American community

COVID-19 took a disproportionate toll on tribes鈥� health and economy.

A family walks across a large open plain

Young people

Young adults have been hardest hit by loneliness during the pandemic.

A teenager wearing a backpack looks out into the distance

Latin Americans

In Latin America, COVID-19 killed more than a million people, fueled recession, and unleashed political upheaval.

COVID-19 revisited

As we slowly move toward a post-pandemic world, it can be helpful to look back at the major moments to better understand the past and ensure a safer future.

People getting off a train wearing masks

January 2020

The outbreak

Professor of Epidemiology Marc Lipsitch talked about the growing number of coronavirus cases around the world.

How mRNA vaccines work

November 2020

The vaccines

蜜桃影像 Chan School Professor Barry Bloom offered insight on the two COVID mRNA vaccines.

What鈥檚 different about the delta variant?

July 2021

The delta variant

William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology, discussed the rapidly spreading variant.

November 2021

The boosters

蜜桃影像 Medical School’s Jonathan Abraham shared insights on the science and history of vaccine boosters.

How does a pandemic become endemic?

2022 and beyond

The future

A new study led by 蜜桃影像 researchers models future SARS-CoV-2 mutations and forecasts their ability to evade immune defenses developed by vaccines and antibody-based treatments

Finding the positives

The 蜜桃影像 Gazette asked experts in the fields of medicine, biology, public health, education, and religion for some silver linings in the coronavirus pandemic.

Michelle Williams

“The pandemic has forced a reckoning. No longer can any sector function without public health integrated into its DNA.”

Pamela Silver

“Lots more people are going to know what messenger RNA is, what an antibody is, and how the immune system works.”

Ingrid Theresa Katz

“We鈥檝e seen a lot more reciprocity across borders, recognizing that this virus itself crosses borders, and therefore we need to be responsive in a way that doesn鈥檛 hem us in …”

Where do we go from here?

We come together

The co-director of the Initiative on Health, Religion and Spirituality explores how rebuilding community life post-pandemic may boost health and wellbeing.

We take it slow

Psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors have long predicted that once the pandemic鈥檚 acute phase eased and its physical impacts lessened, there would be mental health fallout.

We teach

Bridget Long, dean of the 蜜桃影像 Graduate School of Education, talks about the lessons learned from the pandemic, and the challenges ahead.

We learn and improve

The world is a different place from what it was two years ago, and we are still learning to live with all the sorrow and change the pandemic has brought. At the same time, COVID-19 has taught us a lot.

We redesign

"The COVID experience will shape the ways planners and designers think about a healthy environment," says Ann Forsyth, the Ruth and Frank Stanton Professor of Urban Planning and Director of the Master in Urban Planning Program.

We come back stronger

Experts discuss how social welfare can change for the better in a post-pandemic world.

We prevent another pandemic

Learn more about our research that guides decision makers in crafting policies and programs that improve health.