Already, there are calls for the United States and other countries to start taking steps to be better prepared for the next pandemic by developing highly detailed response plans at the local, state, and federal levels. However, based on my experience in helping set up CIC Health to rapidly scale testing in multiple U.S. states and mass vaccination sites in Massachusetts and working on strategy and planning for large corporations for nearly two decades, I have another point of view. While plans are obviously important, those that are overly prescriptive can lead you down the wrong path, because you can never predict exactly what’s going to happen. So instead of trying to spell out all possible actions in excruciating detail, it is better to develop the capability to be nimble.
Countries Will Need a More Nimble Response to the Next Pandemic
They can start preparing now by developing these five capabilities.
February 14, 2022
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Summary.
The nature of the next pandemic is unpredictable. Therefore, the U.S. and other countries need to develop capabilities that will give them the flexibility to respond to whatever nature throws at them. There are five capabilities in particular: redeployable manufacturing, an expandable health care workforce, decentralized innovation, flexible regulations, and better communications and coordination.