We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
"Stunningly infectious" COVID demands better preparation, says Former CDC director
Many people are done with the pandemic, but the pandemic ain't done with us yet.
Why? There's long COVID, and also we can't predict how the virus will play out in the future, former CDC chief Tom Frieden tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
Still, he points out, the best way to "keep yourself out of the hospital and, quite frankly, out of the morgue" is to get vaxxed and boosted.
Frieden says he's stunned by how infectious COVID is compared to other diseases — and that's why those who claim they can predict what's going to happen in a few weeks don't know what they're talking about.
Watch the GZERO World episode: How depoliticizing the US health response will save lives (COVID isn't over)
How depoliticizing the US health response will save lives (COVID isn't over)
We're not done with the pandemic — yet.
Although COVID will likely become endemic sometime this year in some parts of the world, the virus will still rage on everywhere else.
On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer catches up on the pandemic's state of play with former CDC chief Tom Frieden, who has a message for everyone who hasn't gotten vaxxed yet: do it.
Why? New variants could emerge, making the virus more deadly.
Frieden also shares his thoughts on why China needs to transition to "almost" zero-COVID, the post-pandemic need to invest more in public health, and whether we should worry about monkeypox.
Bonus: we mark Pride month by looking at the history of the AIDS quilt.
- What we learned from COVID - GZERO Media ›
- Top Risks 2022: We're done with the pandemic, but the pandemic ... ›
- Should we worry about monkeypox? - GZERO Media ›
- Let's learn from COVID to prevent the next pandemic - GZERO Media ›
- China isn't budging on zero-COVID - GZERO Media ›
- Coming soon: the State of the World with Ian Bremmer - GZERO Media ›
- Coming soon: Ian Bremmer gives his 2022 update on the State of the World - GZERO Media ›
Podcast: How we overcome infectious disease with a public health renaissance
Listen: Former CDC chief Tom Frieden says he's stunned by how infectious COVID is compared to other diseases. The pandemic isn't over yet, he tells Ian Bremmer on the GZERO World podcast, thanks to long COVID plus the fact that we can't predict how the virus will play out in the future. Frieden's advice for everyone is to get vaxxed and boosted, to "keep yourself out of the hospital and, quite frankly, out of the morgue," since new variants could emerge, making the virus more deadly.
He also shares his thoughts on why China needs to transition to "almost" zero-COVID, the post-pandemic need to invest more in public health, and whether we should worry about monkeypox. Until we put more money toward research, he adds, we won't be able to control infectious diseases — rather, they will continue to control us.
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.- Should we worry about monkeypox? - GZERO Media ›
- The problem with China's Zero COVID strategy | GZERO World ... ›
- Podcast: Journalist Barkha Dutt on India's COVID calamity - GZERO ... ›
- Podcast: The Race to Vaccinate: Dr. Atul Gawande Provides ... ›
- After COVID vaccines, time to use mRNA tech against other ... ›
Should we worry about monkeypox?
Now that many parts of the world have moved on from COVID, should we be worried about monkeypox?
Certainly, but we need to know more about the disease, former CDC chief Tom Frieden tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
We humans, Frieden explains, "are connected by the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the planes we travel on," so "anywhere in the world can connect with anywhere in the world within just a day or two."
Until we put more money toward research, he adds, we won't be able to control infectious diseases — rather, they will continue to control us.
- How will we deal with the next pandemic? - GZERO Media ›
- Hard Numbers: Orbán clams up over oil, monkeypox on the move ... ›
- After COVID vaccines, time to use mRNA tech against other ... ›
- Russia cutting Nord Stream 1 gas to undermine European leaders - GZERO Media ›
- Podcast: How we overcome infectious disease with a public health renaissance - GZERO Media ›
After COVID vaccines, time to use mRNA tech against other infectious diseases
Using mRNA technology to develop effective COVID vaccines has been a scientific breakthrough.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg, Melanie Saville, head of vaccine development at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, said during a livestream discussion on equitable vaccine distribution hosted by GZERO Media in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "
There's still a lot that should be done with the technology moving forward" on other infectious diseases like HIV, malaria, or TB. Still, she said that vaccines are only the beginning.
Local manufacturing and distribution is as important — as is future equitable access to the mRNA tech itself.
Podcast: Dr. Fauci's Pandemic Prognosis
Listen: The country's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, joins Ian Bremmer to talk vaccines, school re-openings, and when—and how—the pandemic could finally come end. He was last on GZERO World just weeks before the pandemic hit in the fall of 2019 and he described at the time what kept him up at night: a "pandemic-like respiratory illness." This time, he talks about how closely that nightmare scenario foreshadowed the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers some guidance about what public health measures vaccinated Americans should continue to take in the coming months (hint: masks stay on).
Subscribe to the GZERO World Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or your preferred podcast platform to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.Tokyo reports 816 new Covid-19 cases as governors push for state of emergency
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has so far resisted calls for a second national state of emergency.
South Korea says third wave of Covid-19 being contained, fewest infections in nearly 4 weeks
New cases for Saturday numbered 657, much lower than 824 the day before.