Five Years Later: Austrian Experts Reflect on COVID-19 Lessons

Five Years Later: Austrian Experts Reflect on COVID-19 Lessons

Image: APA/EVA MANHART

 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged from mysterious respiratory illnesses in China around late 2019, has reshaped societal and political landscapes worldwide. For virologist Florian Krammer, the crisis has been a critical learning experience, though some areas remain underprepared. Epidemiologist Gerald Gartlehner shares this view, emphasizing the need for improved pandemic readiness in Austria.

Krammer, an Austrian vaccine researcher affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine in New York and the Medical University of Vienna, was among the first to develop a testing method for SARS-CoV-2. His work has provided significant insights into virus variants, vaccine development, and public health communication. Starting January 1, Krammer will lead the new Ignaz Semmelweis Institute for Infection Research (ISI), a cross-university initiative created as a direct response to the pandemic to consolidate expertise in virology, immunology, and epidemic preparedness.

Krammer highlighted substantial scientific advancements during the pandemic, particularly in mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies. Vaccine development timelines have also been dramatically reduced. However, international coordination for future pandemics remains a challenge, with the World Health Organization (WHO) struggling to unite member states under a cohesive strategy.

Gartlehner, who led the Department of Evidence-Based Medicine at the University for Continuing Education Krems and served on Austria’s Corona Traffic Light Commission, stressed the unpredictability of pandemics. “Which pathogen will trigger the next pandemic is like a lottery,” he noted, adding that even before COVID-19, coronaviruses were not considered a significant threat.

Austria Lags in Pandemic Preparedness

Gartlehner criticized Austria’s pandemic preparedness, citing the lack of a modern Epidemics Act. The current legislation, dating back to 1950, is inadequate for global pandemics and remains unupdated five years after the COVID-19 outbreak. “I wouldn’t say Austria is well-prepared for the next pandemic,” he stated. He also noted that Asian countries, having dealt with the MERS outbreak in 2012, responded more effectively to SARS-CoV-2.

Both experts called for detailed pandemic plans addressing various scenarios, as different pathogens can have vastly different transmission rates and severity levels. Krammer emphasized the importance of learning from communication failures during COVID-19. Public messaging, he argued, needs to consider sociological, economic, and psychological impacts to minimize harm and maintain public trust.

Gartlehner criticized Austria’s failure to fully evaluate its pandemic response. He highlighted the lack of a test strategy despite the country conducting 16 times more COVID-19 tests than Germany at a cost of €5.2 billion. Similarly, school closures during the pandemic were inadequately studied, both in Austria and globally.

Social media’s influence during the pandemic was another critical issue, with misinformation complicating public health efforts. Gartlehner described Austria as lacking ambition in addressing these challenges, calling it “a missed opportunity to learn.”

Looking Ahead: Minimizing Future Pandemic Impacts

Both experts advocate for a holistic approach to pandemic preparedness, integrating perspectives from virology, sociology, psychology, and economics. Future measures should aim to minimize societal inequalities and divisions, which were exacerbated by COVID-19.

Krammer plans to contribute to these efforts through the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Science Communication and Pandemic Preparedness, launching next year. Meanwhile, Gartlehner is involved in the “Being Equipped to Tackle Epidemics Right” (BETTER) project, which runs through 2026, focusing on incentivizing vaccination and analyzing the necessity of school closures.

Despite advancements in immunity through vaccinations and natural infections, both experts stress the importance of vigilance for high-risk groups. While SARS-CoV-2 has now joined other respiratory diseases in posing routine risks, Austria’s economic and social scars from the pandemic remain evident. “Epidemiologically, it’s back to the old normal,” said Gartlehner, but the lessons from COVID-19 must not be ignored.

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