Some people may consider the COVID-19 pandemic to be a thing of the past as 2025 approaches. However, its consequences are still felt in communities, particularly in the Black community and here in Houston. Even though the current crisis is over, COVID-19 is still a public health issue that needs to be addressed.
COVID is thought to have killed over 20 million people. Although member nations recorded over 7 million deaths from COVID-19, the actual death toll is thought to be at least three times higher, according to the World Health Organization.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO, stated that we cannot discuss COVID in the past because it still exists now.
Here are five reasons why COVID-19 is still important.
1. Ongoing Disparities in Health Outcomes
Houston’s Black population was disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, which exposed the glaring health disparities that present in the US. Black persons were more likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID-19, according to data from the Harris County Public Health Department. Preexisting diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, which are more common in Black communities as a result of systemic healthcare disparities, worsened these outcomes.
These differences still exist despite the increased accessibility of immunizations and therapies. Addressing the pandemic’s long-term effects requires ensuring that everyone has fair access to information, treatment, and preventative measures.
2. The Rise of Long COVID
An growing crisis is long-term COVID, a condition in which symptoms continue for weeks or even months after the original infection. According to research from the Texas Medical Center, between 10 and 30 percent of COVID-19 patients may go on to develop long-term COVID. Given their higher infection rates, Black Houstonians may be more likely to experience chronic health conditions like exhaustion, mental fog, and respiratory disorders.
It is crucial to advocate for additional research and resources to address long-term COVID, especially for the populations that were most affected by the pandemic.
3. Economic Recovery Is Still Uneven
The economic effects of the epidemic were catastrophic, and not all areas have recovered equally. During COVID-19, many Black-owned companies in Houston had difficulty surviving and still experience difficulties, such as decreased client traffic and supply chain delays. There were also long-lasting effects from job losses in industries where Black workers are overrepresented, such as healthcare, retail, and hospitality.
Closing these economic disparities and ensuring a more equitable recovery can be achieved by providing targeted efforts to support Black workers and businesses.
4. Vaccine Fatigue and Declining Uptake
Vaccine fatigue is real, even if immunization initiatives helped contain the worst of the pandemic. Black individuals’ booster shot rates have plateaued, according to latest statistics from the Houston Health Department, leaving them at risk for emerging variations. Given that doctors caution of a possible resurgence in cases during the colder months, this is very worrying.
In order to increase vaccine uptake and counteract disinformation, the Black community can benefit greatly from culturally specific communication initiatives and reliable messengers.
5. Preparedness for Future Health Crises
Although COVID-19 served as a wake-up call, have we actually absorbed the insights it imparted? Preparing for future pandemics requires establishing a strong public health infrastructure and cultivating trust among previously underserved communities. This entails resolving public mistrust of healthcare organizations, making sure information is disseminated accurately and promptly, and funding community health programs.
These initiatives, which aim to inform and empower the Black population in Houston, have been led by grassroots groups like the Black Health Matters Initiative. Their efforts highlight how crucial local action is to building resilience.
