Through its Commissions, The Lancet convened academic partners to identify the most pressing issues in science, medicine, and global health, with the aim of producing recommendations to change public policy or improve practice. Lancet Commissions represent in-depth reports, usually conducted over 2-3 years, and undergo The Lancet’s rigorous peer review process. 

Author groups were formed in collaboration between the lead Commissioners (co-chairs) and Lancet editors and represent a broad range of international expertise. 

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission, led by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, was the result of two years of work from 28 of the world’s leading experts in public policy, international governance, epidemiology, vaccinology, economics, international finance, sustainability, and mental health, and consultations with over 100 other contributors to 11 global task forces.

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission is grateful for financial support received from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, and the Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Funds received supported the Commission Secretariat.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Chair of the Commission, invited leading figures in health, diplomacy, economics, and other areas to join the Commission. He asked several Commissioners to chair specialized task forces and to select members for the task forces based on intellectual leadership, integrity, and diversity of field, gender, ethnicity, and geography.

The Task Forces therefore brought together experts on specific issue areas or regions to provide in-depth knowledge and recommendations related to COVID-19 to the Commission. Publications of the Task Forces express the findings and views of Task Force members who have authored the report.

Commissioners and Task Force members served in their individual capacities, on an honorary basis. The Task Forces did not contribute to other publications or statements issued by the Lancet COVID-19 Commission or the other Task Forces, or to other publications in the Lancet family of journals or other publication outlets, unless explicitly specified. The Secretariat of the Commission was hosted by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University.

The Lancet Commission on lessons for the future from the COVID-19 pandemic launched at the time of the high-level segment of the 77th United Nations General Assembly to help ensure that UN member states become acquainted with the report and especially its conclusions regarding the future of the UN multilateral system.

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission has done its best to build on the earlier expert reports and to amplify themes or address topics that require greater international focus. As this is not an inter-governmental body in any way, the Lancet COVID-19 Commission has also been free to take on topics of sensitivity and controversy, putting forward the Commission’s best judgments.   

The report highlights the urgency to establish systems and mechanisms for cooperation to prevent and respond to the spread of emerging infectious diseases and other emerging global health threats.

The Commission’s report did not investigate the origins of the pandemic. As part of its broader recommendations on necessary steps to end the COVID-19 pandemic and be better prepared to effectively manage future global health threats, the Commission called for a further investigation into the two leading hypotheses, both of which are viable: a zoonotic origin (e.g., a spillover in a marketplace) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; or the laboratory-creation of SARS-CoV-2 in the course of research on SARS-like viruses, followed by its accidental escape from the laboratory.    

As a Commission, we strongly supported the call for an objective, open, data-driven, transparent, and independent scientific debate about the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Identification of the origin of the virus will help prevent future pandemics and strengthen public trust in science and public authorities. 

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission used COVID-19 statistics from IHME because IHME's methodology estimates total deaths, including those not officially reported, and is widely accepted.

Email the Commission Secretariat at covid19commission@unsdsn.org.