With few exceptions, welfare state politicians mostly think in terms of election cycles, not in terms of long-range societal improvements. What’s beyond their 2-, 4- or 6-year term is of relatively little interest while they’re in or running for office. Hence, preparations for a pandemic that will most likely not strike on their watch has low priority, and they kick the can down the road from congress to congress and administration to administration. This behavior is systemic under statism both on the political right and left.
Think Right or Wrong, Not Left or Right 