Chapter 1: COVID-19 's Worldwide Impact and a History of Epidemics -- Chapter 2: The Pre-Existing Conditions Influencing COVID-19's Impact -- Chapter 3: COVID-19's Impact on the World's Population -- Chapter 4: Health Care During COVID 19: Systems and New Developments -- Chapter 5: Disparities, Discrimination and Advocacy -- Chapter 6: Healthcare Disparities: Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations -- Chapter 7: The Ethical Challenges of COVID-19 -- Chapter 8: Vaccines: A History and COVID-19 Controversies -- Chapter 9: COVID-19 Testing, Preventive Measures, and Ethical Issues -- Chapter 10: COVID-19: Where are We Now? What Have We Learned?.

Internationally, marginalized populations, including indigenous people, refugees fleeing both war and the effects of climate change and people-of-color, have borne a disproportionate share of serious COVID 19 illnesses and deaths. Each contributor has a background in public health, applied psychology, and international issues, bringing a unique perspective and a valuable lens through which to view these issues. Additionally, the authors are members of the COVID-19 Ethics and Legal Issues Task Force within Division 52 (International Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. The task force has spent the last two years describing how COVID-19 has highlighted pre-existing health disparities within the U.S. and internationally. The topics investigated include strategies to manage the pandemic employed by governments in various countries as well as models of medical ethics guiding healthcare decision-making.