Five years after health officials first learned about the mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, it's hard to believe how much has changed. The World Health Organization (WHO) got its first clue on December 31, 2019. Experts soon realized that the virus, later named COVID-19, would spread like wildfire. By January 20, 2020, the first U. S. case was confirmed in Washington. In just a year, Los Angeles County reported its first million cases. The impact was devastating, with over 7 million global deaths, including 1. 2 million in the U. S. One of those lives lost was Tony Damian, the brother of Baldwin Park's Mayor Pro-Tempore, who died from COVID pneumonia.

But there was hope on the horizon. In December 2020, the FDA authorized the use of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, saving an estimated 15 to 20 million lives globally in the first year alone. Dr. David Bronstein, an infectious disease specialist, notes that while COVID-19 feels routine now, we must stay vigilant. The World Health Organization ended the global Public Health Emergency in May 2023, but the lessons learned can't be forgotten. Despite progress, around 70, 000 people in the U. S. still died from COVID last year. Vaccination rates have dropped, making continued prevention crucial.

Learning from COVID-19: A Five-Year Reflection

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