PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES TO PANDEMICS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM COVID-19 ON PREVENTION AND PROMOTION

The COVID-19 pandemic constituted an unprecedented stress test for public health systems globally, exposing deep structural vulnerabilities whilst simultaneously accelerating innovation in surveillance, communication, and preventive governance. This article examines the public health responses to the pandemic through the dual lenses of disease prevention and health promotion, drawing on epidemiological evidence, policy analyses, and institutional evaluations published between 2015 and 2025. Core themes include the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), the critical role of health communication and risk perception, the exacerbation of pre-existing health inequalities, the performance of international coordination mechanisms, and the integration of One Health frameworks in pandemic preparedness. Findings indicate that whilst rapid scientific mobilisation and vaccine development represented extraordinary achievements, persistent shortcomings in equity, governance coherence, and public trust undermined the overall effectiveness of pandemic responses. The article concludes by articulating an evidence-informed framework of lessons for future pandemic preparedness that prioritises system resilience, equity, intersectoral collaboration, and sustained investment in public health infrastructure.