Don’t Make Waves Campaign
Prevent the Next COVID Wave Before It Starts
Twice a year since 2021, COVID-19 has surged in communities around the world. These waves, driven by human behavior, have become so predictable that many people now expect them. When a wave occurs, so do the calls to action for people to take more precautions. But what if we could reduce the size of the next wave before it begins?
The Don’t Make Waves Campaign is a global call to action from the World Health Network asking individuals, organizations, and communities to take simple precautions during periods of low COVID transmission.
When transmission is low, every action matters more, and we have a better chance of flattening the curve and keeping COVID transmission rates down.
By reducing opportunities for the virus to spread when case levels are relatively low, we can help slow transmission, protect vulnerable people, reduce the number of infections, and lessen the size of future waves.
The goal is simple:
Don’t wait for a wave. Help prevent one.
Why Act When COVID Levels Are Low?
Many people understandably think:
“COVID levels are low right now, so this is the safest time to stop worrying about precautions.”
But from a public health perspective, low transmission periods are actually when precautions can have the greatest impact.
What Can Individuals Do?
You don’t have to change everything about your life to participate.
Choose the precautions that work for your situation:
- Wear a high-quality mask in indoor settings.
- Improve indoor air quality through ventilation and filtration.
- Meet outdoors when possible.
- Test before visiting vulnerable family members or attending gatherings.
- Stay home when sick.
- Keep informed about local transmission trends.
- Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to take sensible precautions.
Small actions, multiplied across communities, create meaningful impact.
Why This Matters
COVID remains a significant cause of illness, disability, and Long COVID worldwide. Research continues to show that repeated infections can increase the risk of long-term health impacts, even when acute infections appear mild.
Every infection prevented matters.
Every chain of transmission interrupted matters.
Every wave reduced matters.
The decisions we make during periods of low transmission help determine what happens when seasonal conditions become more favorable for viral spread.
A Call to Organizations, Advocates, and Community Leaders
The Don’t Make Waves Campaign is designed to be collaborative.
We invite public health organizations, health departments, patient advocacy groups, clean air advocates, schools, community groups, healthcare organizations, labor organizations, researchers, and grassroots organizers to help amplify this message.
Ways to Participate
Create Your Own Content
Develop blog posts, videos, graphics, newsletters, webinars, podcasts, social media posts, and educational materials that explain why prevention matters before transmission rises.
Use your own voice, audience, and expertise to expand the reach of this message.
Repost and Amplify WHN Content
Share campaign graphics, articles, social media posts, and educational resources from WHN.
Every repost helps bring the message to new audiences.
Collaborate With Us
We welcome partnerships, cross-promotion, co-created content, panel discussions, community events, and joint campaigns that help spread the idea that we can work together to reduce future COVID waves.
Start the Conversation
Discuss the concept with your networks, colleagues, and communities:
“What if the best time to take precautions is before a surge begins?”
The more people who understand this principle, the greater the potential impact.
Join the Movement
For five consecutive years, communities have experienced summer COVID waves.
This year, let’s try something different.
Let’s use periods of lower transmission as opportunities to protect one another.
Let’s reduce the number of infections before they happen.
Let’s flatten the curve before it begins to rise.
Don’t Make Waves.
Because preventing the next wave starts today.
World Health Network invites individuals and organizations around the world to participate in the Don’t Make Waves Campaign. Together, we can help reduce transmission, protect our communities, and demonstrate that collective action, even by a relatively small percentage of people, can make a meaningful difference.
