What have we learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic?

The emergence of the highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that led to the COVID-19 pandemic, has challenged the world order. The pandemic highlighted contrasts in our experience and responses: on the one hand, there were disruptions in our lives such as sudden lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions, rising mortality, and failing health systems, while on the other, humanity came together in global commitments toward containment and testing for the virus, and in developing treatment paradigms and novel vaccines. Based on observations and research findings from frontline workers, healthcare personnel, scientists, pharmacists, and vaccine providers, we currently have extensive information on the virus, its infectivity, the emerging mutant strains, vaccine effectiveness, and short- and long-term detrimental effects of COVID-19 on health.