This week Dr. Nick and Fred discuss Fred’s recent article Learning to Live with Endemic COVID-19, published in Security Nexus from the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) which he co-authored with Ben Ryan of Baylor University and Deon Canyon of the APCSS.

Some governmental leaders and others have said we just need to “learn to live with it” regarding the pandemic. Most often that meant a focus on maintaining the economy with no restrictions or implementations of mitigating strategies and a limited focus on vaccinations. The other side of this is those who have locked down tightly and mandated restrictions. Neither of these approaches is correct, the first creates too many severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and death, taxing the healthcare system. And the latter stifles the economy putting people at financial peril.

We need to “Learn” to Live with Endemic COVID-19. Learning is an ongoing process and as we learn we must also be willing to change our approach. The article discusses learning needed in 10 areas:

• Virology
• Vaccines
• Medicine
• Healthcare
• Prevention
• Population Health
• Education
• Behavior
• Flexibility
• Trade-offs and Assistance

The article finishes with

As humanity continues its bitter experience with the pandemic, it is learning what does not work and what does work against this virus. “Learning to Live with It” does not mean complacency, which only serves to increase global inequities. The warning signs are clear and national leaders must ensure we move through this pandemic without creating additional, unnecessary, long-term generational damage to health systems and economies.

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