Vaccination was the cornerstone of public health in the 20th century.

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This Pandemic exposed the effect of decades of underfunding in healthcare, for the majority of countries round the world. Globally, the frailty of health systems has become alarmingly apparent.

Let us take the opportunity to review healthcare budgets and let us proceed without falling into the easy short-sightedness of a political mandate. Budgets and plans must be reviewed thinking decades ahead (how long does it take to educate a doctor?).

But we also need to act preventatively. The world - more obviously the northern hemisphere seems to have forgotten the fact that vaccination was the cornerstone of public health in the 20th century. The benefits of herd immunity allowed the germination of groups that opposed vaccines. This Pandemic forced multiple international attempts to - at the fastest rate possible - produce an effective vaccine. It has to be seen as wake up call for those who have forgotten.

Vaccination rates must rise again for children in both the developing and the developed world – a singles measles death should not be permitted.