Five Years On: The Rise of the Right’s Fake Covid Narrative

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects, not only on global health but also on societal perspectives and political narratives. Five years after the outbreak, the world has made strides in understanding and mitigating pandemics, but there remains a lingering discourse that continues to shape how society views the pandemic’s response. One of the most significant developments in recent years is the rapid rise of a particular narrative—that the real damage was not caused by the virus, but rather by the response to it.

This narrative, which initially existed on the fringes of public discourse, has now become a mainstream discussion point, propelled by the populist right. With the pandemic initially instilling a sense of unity in following expert advice on vaccinations, masks, and social distancing, there is now a growing counter-narrative asserting that it was the policies and restrictions during the pandemic that caused the most harm to individuals and communities, not the virus itself.

The Rise of the Anti-Science Narrative

At the heart of the critique against the pandemic response lies the growing distrust in science and public health expertise. In the early days of the pandemic, public health experts were the trusted voices, guiding the world through the crisis with facts, research, and medical advice. People queued for vaccines, adhered to social distancing guidelines, and followed the science because they understood that the virus was a formidable, invisible threat. Public health was widely seen as the solution to contain and prevent the devastating effects of the virus.

However, five years on, this unified approach has fractured. Skepticism toward vaccines, mask mandates, and government intervention in health matters has gained traction, particularly among certain political groups. Public figures and media outlets, largely associated with the populist right, have helped accelerate the spread of these views. The focus has shifted from understanding the virus and its impact to questioning the measures that were implemented to contain it. This shift has not only polarized the conversation but also emboldened those who argue that the pandemic response itself was an overreaction.

This shift in narrative is largely fueled by distrust in government, the medical establishment, and global health organizations, all of whom are seen as having overstepped their boundaries during the crisis. At the same time, the political right has seized upon this distrust to further its agenda, often portraying the pandemic as a tool for controlling populations and stifling individual freedoms.

The Real Consequences of Misguided Narratives

The impact of this false narrative is far-reaching. Public health experts, who were once celebrated for their dedication and expertise, have now become targets of vitriol and death threats. Anthony Fauci, the former chief medical advisor to the U.S. president, is a prime example of how the narrative has shifted. Once hailed as the voice of reason during the pandemic, Fauci has faced relentless criticism and hostility, and his reputation has been tarnished by the politicization of public health.

Fauci’s experience is not unique. In the UK, Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, two key figures in the British COVID-19 response, have also faced similar attacks. The degradation of these experts has had a chilling effect on future generations of scientists and medical professionals. If the most experienced and respected scientists are being vilified for simply doing their jobs, who will be willing to step up and take on such a critical role in the future?

In addition to this, the backlash against science has led to a dangerous erosion of funding and support for research in infectious diseases. The Trump administration’s policies, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization and slashing funding to research agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have only exacerbated this trend. Without sufficient funding and international cooperation, the world is ill-prepared for the next pandemic.

The Looming Threat of Future Pandemics

While the right-wing narrative claims that the pandemic response was more damaging than the virus itself, public health experts argue that this misdirection is dangerous, especially given the accelerating risks of zoonotic diseases—diseases that originate in animals and can jump to humans. Experts agree that the next pandemic is likely to occur sooner rather than later, with the ongoing threat of bird flu being a significant concern. The H5N1 influenza A strains, which have been circulating in animals for years, could mutate to become transmissible between humans, leading to a new pandemic potentially as deadly as COVID-19.

This threat underscores the importance of continuing to invest in public health infrastructure, scientific research, and international cooperation. The lessons learned from COVID-19 should not be disregarded. On the contrary, they should be used to inform better strategies for dealing with future health crises. Public health experts continue to argue that despite the mistakes made during the early stages of the pandemic, the overall response was effective in preventing even greater devastation.

The mRNA vaccines, for example, played a pivotal role in saving millions of lives. The rapid development of these vaccines was a scientific achievement that should not be underestimated. Masks, social distancing, and other containment measures helped slow the virus’s spread, even if they were imperfect. However, these efforts were often hindered by political decisions, misinformation, and public reluctance. Rather than vilifying the science behind these measures, the focus should be on improving the systems in place to manage future pandemics.

Strengthening Society’s Resilience

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant vulnerabilities in global health systems, particularly in terms of inequality and social infrastructure. In many parts of the world, people were unable to afford to stay home when they were sick due to lack of paid sick leave or social safety nets. These gaps in the system were often exacerbated by the stringent lockdown measures, which left many people feeling isolated and unsupported.

At the same time, the pandemic also highlighted the importance of community and social cohesion. During the peak of the crisis, mutual aid groups emerged in many countries, with people helping each other by providing food, running errands, and offering emotional support. These informal networks proved to be vital in ensuring that people had the resources they needed to survive.

In the wake of the pandemic, there needs to be a broader conversation about how societies can build resilience in the face of future crises. What role should individuals, communities, and the state play in responding to such emergencies? How can we create systems that are more equitable, more supportive, and more responsive to the needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable?

This conversation is long overdue, and yet it remains largely absent from mainstream discourse. Instead of focusing on divisive narratives that blame the response to the pandemic, it is crucial to address the deeper systemic issues that have been exposed by this crisis. Building stronger health systems, reducing inequality, and ensuring that communities are supported in times of crisis should be the focus of any future pandemic preparedness strategy.

Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that we have much to learn from our experiences. While the pandemic response was not perfect, it was ultimately effective in saving lives and preventing an even greater catastrophe. However, the rise of a misguided narrative that places the blame on the response itself is dangerous and undermines efforts to prepare for future crises.

The world must shift its focus from political and ideological battles to a more constructive conversation about how to build a more resilient and equitable society. We must support scientific research, invest in public health infrastructure, and work together to ensure that the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic are not forgotten. Only then can we hope to be better prepared for the next pandemic, which, unfortunately, may be closer than we think.