Respiratory pathogens pandemic preparedness: perspectives on research priorities and key measures of success: meeting report, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 28 September 2022

Overview

On 28 September 2022, World Health Organization (WHO) convened a meeting on respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness in Belfast, United Kingdom. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss global guidance on respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness, drawing on lessons learned from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Two moderated panel discussion sessions served to solicit inputs to inform WHO’s guidance planning components on research priorities in respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness, as well as key measures of success, monitoring and evaluation.

Meeting participants reiterated that many valuable lessons can be drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic as we work towards a new, integrated approach to respiratory pathogen pandemic planning. Meeting inputs stimulated ideas on research and monitoring components in the context of WHO’s planned guidance (Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats Module 1: Planning for respiratory pathogen pandemics) which was published in March 2023.