2022 will be a complex one for public health policy - three defining themes standout. First, COVID-19 remains a significant public health threat. We are in a transition period, edging tentatively towards a settled ‘business as usual’ approach. It is wise to ignore the loudest voices, those seeking to frame ‘living with COVID’ in terms of either strict lockdowns or letting the virus rip. There is a third path which politicians, public health professionals and the public can support. What this looks like – in terms of measures and messages - has yet to be adequately defined (perhaps a small unit in the Cabinet Office is currently ruminating over the next roadmap ‘Beyond Plan B’ or ‘Living with COVID…still’). The public inquiry offers the chance to take a step back and consider how policy-making can improve in the future. For me, some key areas are a must for scrutiny and deliberation – the government’s approach to and implementation of stakeholder relations, the process of rapid ev