Key Learnings for Future Pandemic Preparedness and Response

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The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the clear need for the world to be better prepared the next time a public health emergency of this scale strikes. Rapid and equitable global access to medical interventions, such as therapeutics, diagnostics, and in particular vaccines, which offer the best line of defense for vaccine preventable diseases, will be key to this. However, if future global health architecture is to be more agile and effective at responding to pandemic threats and bringing them under control, it will need to anticipate – and be built to overcome – all potential barriers to equity.

This white paper outlines key COVAX learnings for future pandemic preparedness and response. Drawing upon COVAX’s unique experience enabling an unprecedented global rollout at scale during a pandemic, it highlights challenges encountered and subsequent impact on equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, the actions COVAX took in response, and recommendations for the future.