COVID-19 has demonstrated that we cannot go back to the way we did things before. National surveillance and response systems were not strong or fast enough to halt or control transmission.
There were major challenges in the national vaccination program roll out, quarantine procedures, best practice standards for masks, personal protective equipment and communication. This led to mistrust, misinformation, fear and frustration.
An Australian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention could operate as the central leading organisation, in partnership with existing government and non-government agencies: a “Hub and Spoke” model.
A new structure or agency would serve both Australia’s public health interests, and those of our neighbours.
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