As a physician practicing in the United States, who grew up and went to medical school in the United Kingdom, my news feed and inbox over the last 18 months has been dominated by the COVID situation in both nations. It’s been fascinating to observe how different various aspects of the COVID response have been in the two transatlantic cousins—both wealthy and technically advanced countries. I want to highlight the top 3:
1.Intensity of initial lockdown
Following briefly toying with the idea of “natural herd immunity” in March 2020, the United Kingdom quickly entered a period of a more intense lockdown. Each nation within the UK had their own policies, with England easing out of many restrictions in the summer of 2020, and then re-entering a sustained period of lockdown throughout the winter with strictly enforced limits on social gatherings. This was gradually released, with a complete relaxation of all rules in August 2021. Altogether, a much longer period of lockdown than any state in the US. Despite this, the UK put much more of an early emphasis on keeping schools open throughout for in-person learning.
2.Masking
The United Kingdom was one of the last western countries to adopt widespread use of masks. While everywhere in the United States was different, England has never been as strict on masking as certain states in the US, notably the northeast. People never masked outdoors, nor have they ever routinely masked children under 12 in schools—something that is still happening in many parts of the US.
3.Attitude towards childhood vaccines
The United Kingdom was also one the last western countries to introduce a COVID vaccination program in children. There was rigorous open debate over the summer, with many authorities openly saying that it was “better for children to get COVID and acquire natural immunity, than adopt a vaccination program” (see this article). The JCVI (UK government advisory group) did not recommend a universal vaccination program in children based on the benefit versus risk assessment—and was overruled by the government. Even now, childhood COVID vaccines are not mandatory in the UK (and for that matter, neither are adult COVID vaccines, although strongly encouraged).
This is in stark contrast to the United States, which has been much more aggressive in promoting, and in many instances mandating, the vaccines for children.
I could go on, but these are the top 3 for now. Overall, I believe both the US and UK have made enormous mistakes that have cost lives in their respective COVID-19 pandemic responses, especially with a lack of focus on protecting the elderly and vulnerable. I can only speak for the area I live in the northeast, but I wouldn’t be being honest if I didn’t say that of the two countries; England by far has had the more calm, reasoned and common sense approach.
Suneel Dhand is a physician, writer, and YouTuber. He is Founder at MedStoic Lifestyle Medicine and DocsDox . Follow him on YouTube and Facebook.