Countries that have had more recent experiences in responding to epidemics have been better prepared to assist their extremely vulnerable communities. Countries in West Africa such as Sierra Leone, affected by Ebola, and in East Asia such as China, Singapore and Taiwan, affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), prepared with the necessary institutional, organisational and governance systems to take swift and appropriate action.3,4 Most of these countries were quicker and better able to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic because of having better prepared after having had drawn on lessons and experiences with similar epidemics.