The history of human society is also the history of microbes. It’s the history of disease and contagion, which changes populations, political powers, and culture. The first reported pandemic in 430 BCE, for instance, weakened Athens’ defenses against Sparta and may have decided the outcome of the conflict. The Black Death in the 14th century wiped out a third of Europe, briefly paused war on the continent, and changed everything from wages to fashion. And then of course there’s Christopher Columbus. Diseases like smallpox and measles spread from Spanish ships into the New World where it killed millions and set the stage for colonial expansion.

The novel coronavirus that causes COVID began spreading in Wuhan, China, before reaching every corner of the world. It has likewise changed populations, politics, and culture. While it may take many years to properly gauge the long term effects of the COVID pandemic, its immediate changes are apparent. It has already altered how we travel, work, and learn in schools. 

But COVID isn’t just changing the world. It’s also revealing many things about the world that need changing—including how we develop and distribute vaccines, how governments work together to fight global problems, and where public health practices fall short of serving vulnerable populations. 

Unlike the Black Death or New World smallpox, COVID arrived in a world equipped with the tools to respond to disease. How the world responded—and how we continue to respond—will determine the future of human-microbe history. 

In this learning journey, you’ll explore how COVID revealed the strengths and failures of vaccine development, foreign policy, and the U.S. healthcare system. 

Steps of the Journey

This learning journey will include three readings.

The first reading will explore how vaccines are developed and how COVID accelerated this process. We recommend reading “How long does it take to invent a vaccine?”, “How are vaccines manufactured and distributed?”, and “The Future of Vaccines.”

The second reading will look at how Covid necessitated international cooperation. We recommend reading “Domestic policy and foreign policy: a blurred line” and “Public Health: What do domestic COVID-19 vaccine policies tell us about foreign policy.”

The third reading will explore the racial disparities Covid revealed in healthcare. We recommend covering the entirety of this reading.