After more than two years of pandemic, life has returned to normal for most of us, despite panic fanatics who want us living in fear forever. But while COVID can still be dangerous, the situation is nothing like 2020 or 2021, as infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch explains in this week’s episode. And whatever this new stage is — pandemic or endemic — the important thing now, he says, is for officials to be far more honest and transparent with the public about not just the risks and realities of COVID and vaccines, but about a health-care system still terribly unprepared for future viral waves. (Recorded September 1, 2022) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices