Two great pandemics of the past fifty years – HIV and COVID-19 – have shaken societies around the globe. The immediate crisis of COVID-19 has many of the hallmarks of the early HIV pandemic – fear, rapid action, wall-to-wall media coverage and political attention. In time, we learned to live with HIV. As we enter its fourth decade, what insights from HIV can help us live with COVID-19?
AUSTRALIA IS AGAIN LEARNING HOW TO LIVE THROUGH A LONG-TERM PANDEMIC.
Many people were buoyed by the initial success of our response to COVID-19. It appeared strong leadership from the National Cabinet and an equally strong response from the community had put us well on track to end COVID-19. However, we have now learned that as long as there is transmission, there is potential for the pandemic to re-emerge. Despite our best hopes, a vaccine for all will be some way off.