WHO Aligns Global Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Priorities

Global Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Aligning Priorities for a Safer Future

The world is in a constant state of readiness, bracing for the next potential pandemic. A key strategy involves bolstering global pandemic influenza preparedness. On April 28 2025, The World Health Organization (Who) convened a crucial meeting to align global and regional priorities, focusing on the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution workplan for 2026-2027. This collaborative effort aims to fortify our defenses against future influenza pandemics.

Strategic Alignment: WHO’s Approach to Pandemic Preparedness

The virtual planning meeting,spearheaded by the Who Regional Office for the South-East Asia (Searo) in collaboration with Who Headquarters,brought together focal points from Who country offices. These offices receive vital support through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership contribution (PC) fund.The primary goal was to synchronize global priorities across six key deliverables outlined in the PIP PC High-Level Implementation Plan 2024–2030 (HLIP III), specifically focusing on Outputs 1 and 2.

Given the current financial landscape, aligning global, regional, and national priorities is more critical than ever. This alignment ensures the sustainability of essential influenza surveillance and pandemic preparedness functions. The meeting’s participants included:

• PIP PC focal points from ten PIP PC recipient countries in the South-East Asia Region (Sear)—Bangladesh,Bhutan,DPR Korea,India,Indonesia,Maldives,Myanmar,Nepal,Sri Lanka,and Timor-Leste.
• Staff from Who Searo.
• Global output leads for Output 1 (policy and Planning) and Output 2 (Collaborative Surveillance through GISRS) from Who headquarters, including the global Influenza Program, the Pandemic Preparedness Global Platform, and the PIP Secretariat.

Strengthening Policies and Plans: HLIP III output 1

Dr. Shoshanna Goldin, Technical officer from the Pandemic Preparedness Global Platforms Unit, presented insights into global priorities for seasonal influenza vaccination for 2026–2027. Key priorities include:

• Developing and periodically reviewing national influenza vaccination programmes.
• Conducting impact assessments to measure the effectiveness of vaccination efforts.
• Training the health workforce to administer vaccines and educate the public effectively.
• Implementing strategic actions to enhance vaccination uptake and coverage.

Pro tip: Regularly update your national influenza vaccination programme based on the latest scientific evidence and regional needs. This ensures optimal protection for your population.

GISRS: The Backbone of Global influenza Surveillance

dr. Sergejs Nikisins, Technical Officer from the Global Influenza programme at Who Headquarters, highlighted the critical role of the Global influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). This system has been the cornerstone of global influenza surveillance, preparedness, and response for over 70 years. With 160 institutions across 130 Member States, GISRS is instrumental in detecting emerging influenza viruses and assessing pandemic risks.

Though, disruptions in the supply of Influenza reagents and Resources (IRR) pose a significant threat to year-round surveillance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Such disruptions can lead to:

• Vaccine mismatches, reducing the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines.
• Delays in candidate vaccine virus (CVV) growth, hindering the rapid production of pandemic vaccines.
• Undetected pandemic threats, leaving the world vulnerable to new and emerging viruses.
• Weakened global preparedness, undermining the ability to respond effectively to a pandemic.

Sustaining and strengthening GISRS functionality requires addressing critical gaps in reagent availability, virus sharing, and genomic sequencing capacity. Coordinated efforts are essential to improve budget planning for the 2026–2027 biennium, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support these vital functions.

did You Know? Genomic sequencing of influenza viruses allows scientists to identify mutations and track the evolution of the virus,providing crucial insights for vaccine development and public health interventions.

Real-World Impact: Lessons from the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic

The 2009 H1N1 pandemic serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust influenza surveillance and preparedness. The rapid spread of the virus underscored the need for timely detection, effective interaction, and coordinated response efforts. Countries with well-established surveillance systems were able to identify and respond to the pandemic more effectively, mitigating its impact on public health.

For example, countries that had invested in robust laboratory capacity and rapid diagnostic testing were able to quickly identify cases and implement control measures, such as antiviral treatment and vaccination. This highlights the importance of investing in essential infrastructure and building capacity at the national and regional levels.

Future Trends in Pandemic Preparedness

Several trends are shaping the future of pandemic influenza preparedness:

• Enhanced Surveillance technologies: The use of advanced technologies, such as next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence, is improving the speed and accuracy of virus detection and characterization.
• Universal Influenza Vaccines: Research is underway to develop universal influenza vaccines that provide broader and more durable protection against a wide range of influenza viruses.
• Improved Pandemic Response Coordination: Efforts are being made to strengthen global coordination and collaboration in pandemic response, ensuring that resources are deployed effectively and equitably.
• Community Engagement: Recognizing the importance of community involvement, initiatives are being launched to engage communities in pandemic preparedness efforts, promoting awareness and building trust.

Table: Key Areas of Focus for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

Area of Focus	Key Activities	Expected Outcomes
Surveillance	Strengthening GISRS, enhancing genomic sequencing capacity	Improved detection of emerging viruses, timely risk assessment
Vaccination	developing national vaccination programs, training health workforce	Increased vaccination coverage, reduced disease burden
Policy and Planning	Reviewing preparedness plans, conducting simulations	Enhanced coordination, effective resource allocation
Community Engagement	Promoting awareness, building trust	Increased public cooperation, improved response efforts

Discussions and Next Steps: A Collaborative Path Forward

The meeting concluded with an open discussion, allowing Who country office focal points to seek clarifications and engage in contextual discussions with regional and global counterparts. Participants appreciated the structured guidance provided, noting that it will greatly assist in developing targeted and high-impact activities under the PIP-PC funding mechanism.

The timing of the call was strategically planned to allow sufficient time for Who Country Offices to finalize their draft work plans and submit them to the regional office. Through such coordinated planning efforts, Searo and its Member States continue to strengthen pandemic influenza preparedness and contribute to a more resilient global health emergency architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the PIP Partnership Contribution?

The PIP Partnership Contribution (PC) is a funding mechanism that supports countries in strengthening their pandemic influenza preparedness capabilities.

What is GISRS?

GISRS, or the Global Influenza surveillance and Response System, is a network of institutions that monitors influenza viruses globally, providing critical data for vaccine development and public health interventions.

How can countries improve their pandemic preparedness?

Countries can improve their pandemic preparedness by investing in surveillance systems, developing national vaccination programs, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and engaging communities in preparedness efforts.

How well-prepared do you feel your local community is for a potential influenza pandemic? What steps do you think coudl be taken to improve preparedness at the local level?

Considering teh current state of pandemic influenza preparedness, what specific measures could be prioritized to enhance the effectiveness of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) in detecting and responding to future influenza outbreaks?

Global Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: An Interview with Dr. Anya Sharma

Welcome to Archyde News. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Anya sharma, a leading virologist and expert in pandemic influenza preparedness. Dr. Sharma has been involved in several international initiatives aimed at fortifying global defenses against influenza pandemics. Dr. Sharma, thank you for joining us.

the State of Global Readiness

Archyde News: Dr. Sharma, the World Health Organization recently held a crucial meeting to address pandemic influenza preparedness.Can you provide us with an overview of the key takeaways from that meeting and the primary goals of the PIP Partnership Contribution workplan?

Dr. Sharma: Thank you for having me. The WHO meeting was a crucial step in synchronizing global efforts. The focus was on aligning priorities across countries through the PIP Partnership Contribution, wich funds essential influenza surveillance and preparedness functions. The key goal is to strengthen our defenses against future influenza pandemics by focusing on six key deliverables, especially through outputs like strengthening policies and collaborative surveillance via GISRS.

Prioritizing Vaccination Strategies

Archyde News: The meeting highlighted strategic priorities for influenza vaccination. What are some of the key recommendations and how can countries effectively implement these strategies?

Dr. Sharma: Developing and regularly updating national influenza vaccination programs is paramount. This involves conducting impact assessments, training the health workforce adequately, and enhancing vaccination uptake through targeted strategies. Countries must adapt thier strategies based on the latest scientific evidence and regional needs to protect their populations effectively.

The Critical Role of GISRS

Archyde News: GISRS, the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, has been instrumental for over 70 years. Could you elaborate on the challenges GISRS faces and the critical role it plays in global influenza surveillance?

Dr. Sharma: GISRS is the backbone of global surveillance.It’s a network of 160 institutions across 130 Member States that detect and monitor emerging influenza viruses.Though, disruptions in the supply of reagents can hinder the system’s effectiveness. Vaccine mismatches can reduce vaccine effectiveness, delays in vaccine growth, potential undetected pandemic threats, and can weaken preparedness. Improved resource allocation and enhanced international cooperation in reagent availability are critical for bolstering GISRS.

Lessons Learned and Future Trends

archyde News: The 2009 H1N1 pandemic provided valuable lessons. What key lessons from that pandemic are still relevant, and how are they informing current preparedness strategies?

Dr. Sharma: The 2009 pandemic underscored the need for timely detection, investigation, and coordinated response efforts. Countries with robust lab capacity and rapid response capacity were able to control the situation better.We must keep making improvements in lab capacity, rapid diagnostic tests, and building global cooperation to make a coordinated response effective.

Archyde news: Looking ahead,what are some of the emerging trends in pandemic influenza preparedness that we should be aware of?

Dr. Sharma: We’re seeing enhanced surveillance technologies utilizing AI and next-generation sequencing, the development of universal influenza vaccines, improved pandemic response coordination, and increased community engagement. These innovations promise to make the world better equipped for future outbreaks.

Community Engagement: Closing remarks

Archyde News: Dr. Sharma, why is it crucial for the community to prepare for potential influenza pandemics, and what are a few things local communities can do to reduce the impact?

Dr. Sharma: Community involvement is critical. When people come together and are aware of the potential risks, governments can work together to have the right precautions. The best ways a community can reduce the potential impact is by educating themselves about the current risks, practicing good hygiene and making the right choices to keep themselves and their families safe.

Archyde News: dr.Sharma,thank you for sharing your insights with us. Your expert opinion has been priceless to our viewers today.

Dr. Sharma: My pleasure. Thank you for the possibility to speak with you.

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how well-prepared do you feel your local community is for a potential influenza pandemic? What steps do you think could be taken to improve preparedness at the local level? We encourage readers to share their thoughts and recommendations in the comments below.