Following a summit at the United Nations General Assembly, global leaders pledged to strengthen the international cooperation, coordination, governance and investment needed to prevent a repeat of the devastating health and socioeconomic impact caused by COVID-19 and make the world better prepared for a future pandemic.

In response to the commitment, Adam Kucharski, Co-Director of the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response and Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

“It is important to see this kind of commitment, but ultimately it is only the first step in an ongoing process that will shape whether the world will be truly prepared for the future disease threats. 

Epidemics and pandemics are tackled through actions, but during COVID-19, actions globally were all too often uncoordinated and inequitable. 

Despite some valuable innovation - from vaccines and treatments to data and genomics - there were also major weaknesses in the response. Evidence was often ignored, resources hoarded, and pledges broken. 

The steps that follow this new commitment will decide whether the world builds on key insights and lessons from COVID-19 - or sets itself up for a potential repeat.”

Find out more about how the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response at LSHTM is helping to redefine preparedness for the pandemic era by taking concrete action through its research work.