Essential Factors on Effective Response at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic Comment on "Experiences and Implications of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Emergency in Italy: A Social Science Perspective".

The COVID-19 pandemic in Italy is a stark reminder of the necessity of incorporating the social, economic, and political context in planning responses to public health emergencies. During the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis, it is not just crucial but a shared responsibility to supplement epidemiological approaches with insights from the social sciences. This ensures effective and equitable policies, and it is a responsibility that each of us in the field shares. This discussion is relevant and timely, relating directly to the current global crisis and its potential implications for future public health strategies. This comment underscores the key points of Masino and Enria's paper, illuminating the importance of integrating social sciences into public health strategies, the pivotal role of inequalities in shaping pandemic experiences, and, most importantly, the profound and urgent implications for future epidemic preparedness and response. The urgency of these implications cannot be overstated, and we must act on them swiftly and decisively.