The Michael Shermer Show COVID-19: What We Learned (and Didn't) About Masks, Lockdowns, and Vaccines
Sep 27, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease epidemiologist and director of CIDRAP, shares his insights on handling pandemics. He discusses the enduring nature of COVID-19 and critiques initial miscalculations regarding lockdowns. Osterholm warns about future pandemics and emphasizes the need for improved public health messaging, effective vaccines, and strong infrastructure. He also highlights the real risks posed by airborne viruses and calls for a bipartisan review to prepare for the next major outbreak.
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COVID Is Endemic Not Eradicated
- COVID-19 is here to stay as an endemic virus causing fewer severe cases due to immunity and vaccines.
- Current weekly deaths (~150–160) are real COVID-attributable deaths, not fabricated numbers.
Use Hospital Census To Trigger 'Snow Days'
- Use hospital capacity triggers (like 90–95% bed census) to implement temporary community 'snow days'.
- Reduce public contact until hospitals can provide good medical care to minimize deaths.
A Far Deadlier Coronavirus Is Plausible
- Dangerous coronaviruses exist that combine COVID-like transmissibility with SARS/MERS-level fatality.
- A future spillover could plausibly kill far more than COVID's ~1.5% fatality.
