The world looked very different 5 years ago today, yet important lessons were not learned

Entry into grocery stores was controlled as part of social distancing efforts during the 
first few days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the Winco store in Elk Grove, Calif. |  

On March 16, 2020, communities around the world looked very different. The video shows what shoppers were experiencing at Elk Grove's high-volume grocery store, Winco. 

Distribution channels were disrupted, which meant grocery stores were not being restocked. This shortage of goods led to the hoarding of many products. 

Given the worldwide scale of the pandemic, scientists developed a vaccine by December 2020. 

However, this swift progress also fueled vaccine hesitancy among some populations, leading to a decline in routine immunizations. This hesitancy has had unintended consequences, as evidenced by the recent measles outbreak in Texas.

Since January, 259 measles cases have been confirmed in the South Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas, primarily among unvaccinated school-aged children. Tragically, this outbreak has resulted in one fatality - a school-aged child who was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.

The irony of the pandemic is that while the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines showcased scientific prowess, the ensuing vaccine hesitancy has led to setbacks in controlling other infectious diseases. 

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