The Extreme Cost of the COVID-19 Pandemic (with references)
HUMAN COST
• 22+ Million Lives Lost (2020-22). The Economist
• 65+ Million People Disabled by Long Covid (2020-22). BMJ and JAMA 6.2% of infections resulting in Long COVID
ECONOMIC COST
• $28 Trillion Dollars Lost (2020-22). IMF and JAMA The Covid Pandemic and the $16 Trillion Virus (in U.S.)
CASE FATALITY RATES (CFR) and FUTURE PANDEMIC RISK
Case Fatality Rate of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection:
• 1% CFR of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (2020-21). BMJ Review
• 15% CFR of SARS-CoV-1 coronavirus (2002-03). CIDRAP
• 35% CFR of MERS-CoV coronavirus (2012-22). WHO
Case Fatality Rate of H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu) transmission and infection from birds to mammals to humans:
•56% CFR of H5N1 (2003-2023). WHO Report
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT
Lives Saved by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines:
• 20 Million Lives Saved by Vaccines in first year. The Lancet