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Public health research in the UK to understand and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and COVID-19 response measures
  1. Oyinlola Oyebode1,
  2. Sheena E Ramsay2,
  3. Carol Brayne3
  1. 1 Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
  2. 2 Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  3. 3 Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  1. Correspondence to Carol Brayne, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; cb105{at}medschl.cam.ac.uk

Abstract

This paper reflects concerns that funding and attention should be expanded from the important focus on those suffering and dying from COVID-19, and the safety and resources of healthcare professionals, to address wider questions on the (unequal) health and well-being impacts of COVID-19 and associated response measures. While immediate priorities such as those outlined in the WHO research agenda are undoubtedly important, additional urgent questions must be addressed. These include questions focused on (1) the non-virus impacts of preparing health and social care systems to cope with COVID-19 and (2) the health effects mediated by the educational, economic and social injuries sustained during the pandemic. Long-term, sustained and co-ordinated interdisciplinary research funding will be needed to address the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19 and its response measures.

  • Public health
  • Policy
  • Inequalities

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214997

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors CB conceived the idea of this paper, OO wrote the first draft, CB and SER further developed the draft. All members of the Faculty of Public Health Academic Research Committee had the opportunity to review the draft and many contributed to the article. OO, CB and SER finalised the version for submission.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.