As Canada grapples with rising COVID-19 cases and new, more transmissible strains of the virus, experts in medicine and emergency preparedness say it’s worth taking stock and preparing to better meet the next stage of pandemic challenges. Dr. Shawn Whatley, a past president of the Ontario Medical Association, says that last year in the early days of the pandemic, the government didn’t yet know what it was dealing with, but at this stage officials should be thinking more strategically in several areas. Whatley, a Munk senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says that although the vaccine rollout in Canada will provide much-needed relief, it’s not a cure-all and governments should adjust their approach in order to save lives in the long run. “The vaccine is part of an overall response, but the overall response needs to be, protect the vulnerable, isolate the sick, and make sure that our system has …