COVID-19: 6 Years On – Is the World Ready for the Next Pandemic?

Six years after the World Health Organization first declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a critical question remains: is the world truly better prepared for the next pandemic? The answer, according to the WHO, is a complex one – a qualified yes, tempered by the understanding that progress remains fragile and uneven. While significant strides have been made in strengthening global health security, sustaining these gains and addressing existing vulnerabilities is paramount.

Lessons Learned and Concrete Advances

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder that global threats demand global solutions. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized, “Solidarity is the best immunity.” This principle has driven several key advancements in pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. Perhaps most significantly, the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, establishes a comprehensive framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, aiming to improve both global health security and equity. Member States are currently finalizing the Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) system, a crucial annex to the agreement, paving the way for its formal adoption and entry into international law.

Alongside the Pandemic Agreement, amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) entered into force in September 2025, designed to bolster national capacities for pandemic preparedness. Financial support has also been mobilized through the Pandemic Fund, cofounded by WHO and the World Bank, which has allocated over US$ 1.2 billion in grant funding across three rounds. This funding has catalyzed an additional US$ 11 billion, supporting 67 projects in 98 countries across six regions, focusing on areas like surveillance, laboratory networks, workforce training, and multisectoral coordination.

Technological advancements are also playing a crucial role. WHO’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence has updated its Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, leveraging artificial intelligence to assist over 110 countries in identifying and responding to emerging threats more rapidly. Genomic sequencing capacities have expanded globally, with over 110 countries now strengthening genomic surveillance through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network to track pathogens with pandemic potential.

Strengthening Global Infrastructure

The WHO BioHub has emerged as a trusted global mechanism, coordinating sample shipments to laboratories for analysis and research. Supported by 30 countries and territories, the BioHub has acquired 34 variants of viruses including SARS-CoV-2, mpox, Oropouche, and MERS-CoV, and facilitated engagement with close to 80 laboratories worldwide. Efforts to expand local, equitable development and production of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments are also gaining momentum, exemplified by the mRNA technology transfer hub in Cape Town and its training center in Seoul, as well as the Interim Medical Countermeasures Network.

Investing in human capital is equally important. The WHO Academy in France is focused on strengthening capacities in pandemic preparedness through simulation trainings, while the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing, established by the Republic of Korea and WHO, is boosting workforce skills in vaccine and biologics manufacturing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The Global Health Emergency Corps, launched in 2023, provides surge support to countries facing public health emergencies, assessing workforce capacities and fostering a network of emergency leaders to share best practices.

The Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) continues to help countries identify gaps and strengthen accountability in their preparedness efforts. These efforts build upon pre-existing infrastructure, with 121 countries now possessing national public health agencies responsible for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience. 20 countries have completed Joint External Evaluations, 195 States Parties have filed annual IHR reports, and 22 countries have finalized National Action Plans for Health Security.

From COVID-19 to Ebola and Marburg: Demonstrable Progress

Recent responses to outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg demonstrate the tangible progress made. Diseases that once posed catastrophic threats, with limited treatment options, are now being contained more effectively. The WHO highlights that the most recent outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Marburg in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia were contained in a fraction of the time compared to past outbreaks, with limited spread and lower fatality rates. These responses were led by national institutions, supported by the WHO, showcasing the strengthening of national capacities.

The Fragility of Gains and Shifting Priorities

Despite these achievements, the WHO cautions that these gains are fragile. A concerning trend is the shift in funding away from health towards defense and national security, potentially jeopardizing the exceptionally systems that were strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO emphasizes that pandemics are national security threats, and investing in preparedness is an investment in lives saved, economies protected, and societies stabilized.

This funding shift is particularly worrying given the ongoing need for sustained investment in surveillance, research, and development of countermeasures. The fifteenth meeting of the IHR (2005) Emergency Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic, held recently, underscored the continued need for vigilance and coordinated action.

A Call to Action and the Path Forward

The WHO urges governments, partners, and stakeholders not to abandon pandemic preparedness and prevention efforts. The upcoming WHO Executive Board meeting will be a pivotal moment, as governments determine the future of collaboration, accountability, and efficiency in global health. Pathogens do not respect borders, and no country can effectively prevent or manage a pandemic alone. Global health security requires cross-sectoral, cross-governmental, and cross-regional collaboration.

The WHO remains committed to supporting all countries in strengthening preparedness, accelerating innovation, and upholding solidarity. The organization will continue to assist Member States in finalizing their efforts to forge a global compact for a world that is safer from pandemics. Preparedness requires continuous vigilance, and the time to act is now – before the next pandemic strikes. As the WHO reflects six years after the initial alarm, the message is clear: sustained commitment and collaborative action are essential to safeguarding global health security.