Five Years On, COVID-19 Continues to Shape Health and Society

While COVID-19's severity has diminished, its ongoing health impacts and societal shifts remain significant.

COVID-19 now causes fewer severe cases and deaths due to widespread immunity, with its fatality rate comparable to seasonal flu.
Vaccination remains crucial for high-risk groups, with updated vaccines targeting new variants as the virus continues to evolve.
Long COVID affects approximately 6% of symptomatic cases, though its prevalence has declined with newer Omicron variants.
The pandemic has led to a sustained increase in respiratory infections and long-term changes in children's physical and mental health.
Experts express concern over global preparedness for future pandemics, citing insufficient surveillance and intervention efforts for emerging threats like avian influenza.