Next pandemic is “absolutely inevitable”: Top UK scientist’s warning

The former Chief Scientific Adviser to the government Sir Patrick Vallance has said that another pandemic is ‘absolutely inevitable,’ while speaking at the Hay Festival and acknowledging the upcoming election, urged the incoming British Government to focus on precautionary measures against the warning, deeming that ‘we are not ready yet’.

Speaking at a panel event in Powys, Vallance said it is “great we are having an election” as there are “clearly issues that need to be sorted out”. One of the things the next government must do is implement “better surveillance to be able to pick these things up”, he said. Vallance emphasized the pressing need for the UK government to implement robust surveillance systems capable of rapidly detecting emerging threats.

Ensuring Global Pandemic Preparedness: An Absolutely Inevitable Imperative

He also reiterated what he said to G7 leaders in 2021, that “we need to be much faster, much more aligned – and there are ways to do this – at getting rapid diagnostic tests, rapid vaccines, rapid treatments, so that you don’t have to go into the extreme measures that took place” during the Covid-19 pandemic. The measures he recommends are possible to implement, Vallance believes, but “require some coordination”. He further lamented that by 2023, the G7 had seemingly “forgotten” about the points he had raised.

“If this gets pushed off G7 and G20 agendas, we’ll be in exactly the same position,” he warned, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum.

According to Mr. Vallance, developing “better surveillance” to identify new risks early is one of the most important issues. He reiterated his message to the G7 leaders in 2021 by highlighting the significance of quick action. According to Mr. Vallance, easily accessible diagnostics, immunizations, and therapies might avert the need for the extreme measures seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although attainable, these advancements need substantial global “coordination,” he warned.

Vallance advocated treating pandemic preparedness with the same urgency and commitment as maintaining a standing military force. “We know we have to have an army, not because there’s going to be a war this year, but we know it’s an important part of what we need as a nation,” he explained. “We need to treat this preparedness in the same way and not to view it as an easy thing to keep cutting back when there’s no sign of a pandemic – because there won’t be a sign of a pandemic.”

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there are problems with the promptness and effectiveness of the inquiries, adding that we “need to work out a better way” to handle them. Vallance praised the anti-smoking measure passed by the outgoing administration and expressed disappointment that it won’t be implemented before the election, even though he believes it is about time for there to be an election.

Although the World Health Organization’s planned pandemic pact is a positive move, Vallance voiced worry about the lack of consistent attention being paid to this pressing subject. “But I don’t think there’s enough focus,” he said. If this issue gets pushed off G7 and G20 agendas, “we’ll be in exactly the same position, and I hope that’s an important outcome of the inquiry”.

According to the WHO last week, COVID-19 has erased a decade of advancement by reducing life expectancy worldwide by nearly two years. The World Health Statistics analysis by the UN Health Agency shows that life expectancy decreased by 1.8 years to 71.4 years, which is the same as it was in 2012. According to the report, the average lifespan in excellent health dropped by 1.5 years to 61.9 years in 2021.

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