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Are we ready for the next pandemic?

During the APIC-ADVA Asia Pacific Summit on Infectious Diseases and Immunization from 1 October to 1 November, 2023, Professor Dale Fisher addressed pandemic preparedness within Moderna’s symposium on “Unlocking Potential: The Future of mRNA Technology in Tackling Infectious Diseases and Preparing for the Next Pandemic.” His session integrated various aspects, including lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, global efforts on surveillance of respiratory pathogens and emerging diseases, and the aspirations of CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) known as the “100 days mission.”

One of the key lessons he highlighted was that effective pandemic response extends beyond immediate actions, emphasizing the need for ongoing preparedness and feedback mechanisms to enhance readiness. Prof Fisher outlined essential pillars for a successful outbreak response, emphasizing the importance of them working synergistically. Furthermore, he stressed the significance of communication and community engagement in outbreak response, particularly when it comes to delivering messages on vaccinations to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, drawing insights from the Singapore context.

In his concluding remarks, Prof Fisher initiated a discussion on whether we are ready for the next pandemic. While acknowledging that there will always be challenges in various aspects of pandemic preparedness, he highlighted the potential benefits of having a system transitioning towards readiness, exemplified by initiatives like the CEPI 100-day vaccine mission. This goal set by CEPI aims to transform capacities to respond swiftly to emerging infectious diseases. By having vaccines ready within a shorter timeframe, we can potentially better equip ourselves to respond to future pandemics more effectively.