We are not achieving population “herd” immunity at current levels of vaccine coverage. It is reckless to assume we can open up society and remain shielded from the worst effects of the virus. Allowing further uncontrolled spread of the virus creates opportunities for further variants of concern to emerge, at least one of which will be vaccine resistant [3].

Priority must be given to expanding genetic sequencing to detect virus mutations, with internationally agreed standards and shared resources and support [3].

Continued social distancing measures and wearing of face masks is necessary irrespective of vaccination status [4]. Improving the effectiveness of contact tracing and financial support for self-isolation is needed [5].

Countries should critically review their policies with regard to mass gatherings, learning from previous experience of superspreading events [6] and evaluation of the experience of the Euros 2020.

EU institutions should agree a strong common European policy on border controls, harmonized and effectively implemented by each Member State [3].

There is widespread under-ascertainment of cases of COVID-19 infection and a high frequency of asymptomatic infection [3]. Testing for COVID-19 needs be extended to a broader range of suspicious symptoms. The public needs to recognize the widening range of symptoms of COVID-19 and why they should be tested, even if their symptoms are mild [3].

Health-care services must prepare to respond to COVID-19 associated medical conditions [3]. Enhanced surveillance is needed for COVID-19 sequelae and COVID-associated medical conditions. There should be an international agreement on categories of long COVID manifestations and a surveillance system implemented [3].

The systematic replacement of PCR tests by rapid tests has increased the risk of false negatives making it difficult to control transmission. Governments need to see testing as part of the toolbox for reducing transmission, but recognise its limitations and convey accurate information the general public [3].

Countries must improve vaccination coverage rapidly. They must strengthen efforts to address vaccine hesitancy [7]. Continued vigilance in surveillance of vaccine efficacy is needed. Countries must ensure that vaccines are distributed equitably in their communities, and internationally [8].

Countries still need to address unrecognised, untreated or uncontrolled long-term conditions and conditions requiring surgery during the pandemic. Health services must take advantage where there is a decrease in COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalisation to address the backlog in regular care. Governments must resist relaxations which risk an increase in COVID-19 hospital bed-occupancy and prevent any recovery in routine and emergency care [2].

In addition to planning for COVID-19, countries must plan for a major flu outbreak this year. Flu was greatly suppressed during 2020, through high flu vaccination rates, social distancing and mask wearing. These will have impacted on transmission of any respiratory viruses, and are still needed in 2021 [9].

Enhanced Influenza, pneumococcal vaccine programmes and vitamin D supplementation also need to be implemented [2].

Countries should prepare for a cold winter [2], and for extreme and unpredictable weather events, like those happening with flash floods in Europe and with the extreme heat dome over the North Western Pacific region [10].

Efforts to stimulate economies by reducing societal COVID-19 restrictions will fail if the virus is not suppressed to very low levels [11]. Countries must protect the health and the social welfare of all their people [2, 3]. Countries must protect their children’s future; keeping schools open should be the priority [12, 13].

We will not be free of the pandemic until we are all free of it [14]. It is grossly irresponsible for any country to abandon all public health and social protection measures. It is an action, not confined to their own borders. It will have wide-ranging impact across the globe and weaken global efforts to suppress the virus [15]. The possibility of perpetual COVID remains real [16].

Communication strategies must change from the message of protecting the health system capacity and the lives of older individuals, to protecting young individual’s health over the long term due to the risk of long COVID-19 sequelae [3]. Some of the new SARS-COV2 variants will have an impact on the effectiveness of vaccines and put in jeopardy the huge vaccination efforts that have been made. This will have consequences for public trust and vaccine confidence.

Communication of the medium-term risks is essential for people to understand and give their support preventive efforts. Our governments and public health experts must earn the trust of the public we serve, and consent to the measures which must be implemented [2, 3].

Our messages must be clear, consistent and unequivocal. We can be optimistic, but we cannot be complacent in our efforts towards the end of this pandemic.