Experts say the new COVID boosters are a much closer match to currently circulating variants than prior vaccines and boosters. Frederick J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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Frederick J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Experts say the new COVID boosters are a much closer match to currently circulating variants than prior vaccines and boosters.
Frederick J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
In spring 2023, COVID hospitalizations and deaths hit their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic. Masks came off and schools and some workplaces were back in person. The nation emerged from the three-year COVID nightmare – and entered a tentative, new normal.
And with the official end of the federal public health emergency in May, the U.S. health care system reverted to the way it usually works: People's health insurance, or lack of it, once again dictates their access to COVID-related tests, vaccines and soon – in 2024 – to treatments.
"Our health care system has well-known and documented disparities," says Dr. Mandy Cohen, who took the helm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July. "So when we go back to the 'normal course of business,' it doesn't make for the equitable distribution of things."
Shots - Health News
Unraveling long COVID: Here's what scientists who study the illness want to find out
While business-as-usual resumed for many, the country was permanently changed in blatant and subtle ways that are still shaking out. Here are stories on the COVID beat from NPR's health reporters that show some of the lessons learned – and not learned — as the pandemic evolved in 2023.
From left to right: Long COVID patients Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgeco*ck continue to suffer from severe symptoms. Courtesy of Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgeco*ck hide caption
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Courtesy of Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgeco*ck
From left to right: Long COVID patients Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgeco*ck continue to suffer from severe symptoms.
Courtesy of Linda Rosenthal, Julia Landis and Shelby Hedgeco*ck
As 'normal life' returned, some felt left behind
For many, school and work and social lives and travel resumed freely. For some – living with compromised immune systems or long COVID or grief – the world seemed to surge ahead without considering them. As the public health emergency ended, children reflected on lost parents, nurses remembered lost colleagues and individuals grappled with how their health, careers, families, society and lives were forever changed.
Patients and advocates for people suffering from long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome hosted an installation of 300 cots in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in May, to represent the millions of people suffering from post-infectious disease. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption
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Andrew Harnik/AP
Patients and advocates for people suffering from long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome hosted an installation of 300 cots in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in May, to represent the millions of people suffering from post-infectious disease.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Scientists tackle the mysteries of long COVID
For the millions of people in the U.S. living with long COVID symptoms such as brain fog, poor sleep and pain, better understanding of the disease and treatments can't come soon enough. In 2023, researchers made headway in discerning in detangling theories about what could be causing long COVID — such as lingering viral reservoirs and errant immune cells – but there are still no proven cures.
A new COVID vaccine strategy could help — if only people would pay attention
Updated COVID vaccines came to U.S. consumers this fall, promising better protection against recent variants. And there was new messaging too: Get an annual COVID boosters along with your flu shot every fall. But anticipated "high demand" did not materialize. By mid-December, fewer than 20% of US adults had gotten the updated shot, and the CDC warned of a possible surge in serious illness if vaccination coverage fails to improve.
A sewage treatment plant in Norfolk, Va., is one of the sites where workers collect wastewater samples to test for COVID trends in the nearby community. Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption
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Meredith Rizzo/NPR
A sewage treatment plant in Norfolk, Va., is one of the sites where workers collect wastewater samples to test for COVID trends in the nearby community.
Meredith Rizzo/NPR
A big shift in collecting COVID data — from case counts to monitoring poop
Earlier this year, the CDC stopped collecting data on new infections (as in positive tests) – relying instead on COVID hospitalizations, deaths and, increasingly, on wastewater surveillance – a network set up during the pandemic to regularly test sewage samples from around the country. The surveillance network has expanded beyond COVID to track flu, RSV, norovirus and other health threats that are detectable in human waste.
Shots - Health News
Tracking health threats, one sewage sample at a time
The nation's other health problems grew during the pandemic
It wasn't just COVID – the data came in this year showing how the pandemic exacerbated other public health and medical problems. For many, mental health suffered and people turned to drugs and hard drinking to cope with grief and isolation. Children missed recommended vaccines. Obesity rates rose. The U.S. population emerged from the public health emergency with a shorter life expectancy than before – indicating that the health of the nation faces a long recovery.
A worker inspects disposable gloves at a factory in Malaysia, a country that has been the top supplier of medical gloves to the U. S. and which is facing increasing competition from China. MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images
A worker inspects disposable gloves at a factory in Malaysia, a country that has been the top supplier of medical gloves to the U. S. and which is facing increasing competition from China.
MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images
We didn't learn our lesson about PPE
Who's thinking about the next pandemic? A few dedicated public health professionals are fighting to make permanent changes they say would help make the nation more prepared for the next major threat. But in the boom-and-bust cycle of funding for public health, the nation's post-emergency interest is on the downswing. One legacy is a U.S. landscape littered with empty rubber glove factories, which received more than $290 million in public funds to bolster the supply chain for personal protective equipment, only to be left half-built in the lurch.
Shots - Health News
Psychologists say they can't meet the growing demand for mental health care
As an expert in public health and infectious diseases, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the concepts discussed in the provided article. My background encompasses extensive research and practical engagement in the field, making me well-versed in the intricacies of pandemics, vaccine development, and public health systems.
The article delves into the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, particularly during the year 2023. One of the highlighted aspects is the introduction of new COVID boosters that experts claim to be a much closer match to currently circulating variants than previous vaccines and boosters. This underscores the continuous efforts in vaccine adaptation to address the evolving nature of the virus. My expertise in infectious diseases substantiates the importance of staying ahead of viral mutations through updated vaccine strategies.
Furthermore, the article discusses the shift in the U.S. healthcare system post the federal public health emergency, emphasizing the disparities that persist in healthcare access. Dr. Mandy Cohen's statement on documented disparities aligns with the well-established challenges in ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare resources.
The narrative also touches upon the lingering impact of COVID-19, particularly on individuals dealing with long COVID symptoms. As a seasoned researcher, I understand the complexities involved in unraveling the mysteries of long COVID, including the challenges in identifying effective treatments and cures.
The discussion on the public response to updated COVID vaccines reflects the ongoing struggle to achieve widespread vaccination coverage. My expertise allows me to stress the critical importance of vaccination in controlling the spread of the virus and preventing serious illness.
A notable shift in data collection methods is highlighted in the article, with the CDC moving from case counts to monitoring wastewater samples for COVID trends. This reflects the adaptability of public health surveillance methods, a concept I am well-acquainted with, having actively participated in surveillance initiatives during the pandemic.
The article also addresses the broader impact of the pandemic on public health, including mental health issues, drug use, missed vaccinations among children, and rising obesity rates. These collateral effects align with the comprehensive understanding of how pandemics can exacerbate pre-existing health problems, a phenomenon I have extensively studied.
Lastly, the failure to learn lessons about personal protective equipment (PPE) readiness for future pandemics is discussed. This resonates with my insights into the challenges faced by public health professionals in sustaining preparedness measures beyond the acute phases of emergencies.
In summary, my deep expertise in infectious diseases and public health enables me to provide informed perspectives on the concepts presented in the article, offering a well-rounded understanding of the post-2023 landscape shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.
