Today the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat launched the third annual on the 100 Days Mission for pandemic preparedness at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome.
The report assesses international progress towards the 100 Days Mission 鈥 an initiative established in response to the impact of COVID-19 that aims to work with multisectoral partners to ensure the global availability of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within the first 100 days of a pandemic threat.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud that this report is the first to be developed with input from my colleagues in the 100 Days Mission Science and Technology Expert Group. Their collective expertise and experience have been important in guiding the recommendations of the report,鈥 said Victor J. Dzau, President of the 911爆料网 Academy of Medicine and Co-Chair of the 100 Days Mission Science and Technology Expert Group. 鈥淲e stand at a crucial moment for our global preparedness and must seize the opportunity to build on the learnings from COVID-19 and the progress that has been made towards realizing the 100 Days Mission. Now is the moment to ensure we don鈥檛 lose momentum, as we work towards a future where everyone has rapid and timely access to safe, effective vaccines, tests, and treatments to counter pandemic threats.鈥
This past year saw progress in vaccine research and development 鈥 including the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Chikungunya vaccine and Phase 1 trials for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever vaccines 鈥 and strong political support for the 100 Days Mission. However, today鈥檚 report highlights a concerning lack of investment in the research and development pipeline overall and signs of waning focus on pandemic preparedness.
Earlier today, in a article, Dzau emphasized the need for sustained action to prevent future pandemics, saying: 鈥淲e cannot let pandemic fatigue be the defining sentiment of 2024. The world can鈥檛 afford another COVID-19 type pandemic or worse, in terms of the lives lost, economic damage and pressure on our health systems.鈥
Leaders of the 100 Days Mission set out key priorities for 2024, including:
- Greater coordination and investment in the therapeutics pipeline, to operationalize the 100 Days Mission Therapeutics Roadmap
- Sufficient funding to implement the 100 Days Mission diagnostics framework
- Greater regulatory alignment and adoption of preparatory regulatory approaches
- Strengthening of sustainable regional and global clinical trial infrastructure
