"In 2020-2022, the world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought about the most profound changes globally since the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. The SARS-CoV-2 virus spread across the world. Conservatively, almost 7 million people died, economies sputtered, governments faltered, and inequities were highlighted in searing ways. Quickly, COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, became one of the world's worst killers in multiple countries, with most of those deaths coming from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In tragedy, there also was dramatic progress and innovation as vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 were developed at lightning speed. The pandemic underlined more acutely than any recent event the centrality of health behavior and the threats of health inequities. In the early days of the pandemic (winter/spring 2020), before there were vaccines and treatments, it was necessary to rely on what was learned in 1918 and since-the importance of masks, physical distancing, and good hygiene, such as handwashing. Unfortunately, these proven, common-sense activities became highly politicized. Some countries, such as South Korea, were remarkably successful in applying interventions to prevent sickness and death early in the pandemic, though the country proved vulnerable in its later stages. Other countries had leaders who distrusted science and waited too long to adopt proven interventions. Millions became infected and died as a result, and the economies in these countries were hard-hit. Then, a concerning pattern emerged with the adoption of vaccines: while overall vaccine uptake was relatively high, disadvantaged populations often did not get vaccinated due to mistrust and/or lack of access. COVID also drew attention to an emerging infodemic, or spread of information, often false, at a volume and great speed, affecting health behaviors and challenging people's and systems' capacities to cope with the pandemic"--