- Dutch COVID policy is criticized for being slow and outdated, failing to anticipate developments months in advance.
- Boosters are highly effective, but the Netherlands delayed their rollout until February, despite having 10 million doses in storage.
- Oral antiviral pills (Paxlovid and molnupiravir) show high efficacy in preventing severe illness and death, but require timely administration within 5 days of symptoms.
- Government planning for pills is inadequate, with reliance on PCR tests instead of quicker antigen tests, risking delays.
- Expertise outside the government, such as from scientists and healthcare workers, is more effective than official policy.
- The author questions Dutch governance culture, citing a lack of accountability and slow decision-making.