Hantavirus, Ebola, and new strains of COVID —  you’ve definitely heard it. Every time a new disease outbreak makes headlines, social media quickly fills with predictions that another COVID-19-style pandemic is right around the corner. But another pandemic on that scale is less likely than people think.

​That doesn’t necessarily mean future outbreaks won’t happen. They absolutely will, no matter what, and for years to come. However, the world is far more prepared than it was in 2019. Scientists can identify new viruses faster, governments have pandemic response plans in place, and vaccine technology has advanced in just a few years.

​Of course, there are still valid concerns around public health funding and preparedness. No system is perfect, and no one can predict the future with certainty. But sometimes public conversation makes it sound as though another global shutdown is inevitable.

COVID-19 taught the world many difficult lessons. While we should remain vigilant, I believe we are better equipped to respond to future threats than many people give us credit for.