Creating Sustainable Infrastructure for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinvigorated the national and global conversation about disrupting the panic-neglect cycle in public health. It has also shown us that no single sector can do this alone—for instance, the rapid delivery of mRNA vaccines and the establishment of large-scale, end-to-end testing infrastructure for COVID-19 were products of private-sector innovation and skilled workforce, driven by long-term public sector vision and support. We have seen similar dynamics deliver response modes like diagnostics, therapeutics, and pathogen genomic surveillance.

We are in a moment of opportunity to create equitable, sustainable infrastructure to be prepared for the next pandemic or public health emergency. How can we best leverage the strengths of the public and private sectors to meet this moment? What ethical, legal, public policy, and business considerations are at play? How can we collaboratively envision and build an infrastructure of public and private sector stakeholders that embodies a long-term, global mindset while addressing equity concerns and local needs?