Publication
Five years after Covid‐19: What have we learned (and forgotten)?
This article reflects on the lessons (and oversights) of the COVID-19 pandemic five years on. While much of the academic and public focus has shifted elsewhere, the crisis exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems, governance, and social cohesion.
- Author
- Jeroen Wolbers & Sanneke Kuipers
- Date
- 29 April 2025
- Links
- Read the full article here
The researchers argue that COVID-19 was not just a health crisis, but also an economic, social, and political one, highlighting the need for more integrated and inclusive crisis responses.
Despite early calls to 'build back better,' investment in pandemic preparedness is already declining, and political polarisation and misinformation continue to threaten future responses. The article urges researchers, policymakers, and institutions not to let hard-earned insights fade, and to invest in whole-of-society approaches that prioritise trust, equity, and interdisciplinary cooperation.
The key question is no longer if another pandemic will come, but when.