 The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the United States, with over 1 million people dying between February 2020 and May 2022. This has resulted in a significant reduction in life expectancy and economic welfare losses. In particular, the non-Hispanic white population has been hit hardest, with a loss of US$6.50 billion in income growth and US$0.24 billion in the value of lives lost. The Hispanic population has also suffered greatly, with a loss of US$8.24 billion in income growth and US$9.93 billion in the value of lives lost. These figures highlight the urgent need for investment in healthcare to protect against future pandemics. This article was authored by Sachin Silva, Eric Goosby, and Michael J. A. Reed.