Pandemic Preparedness Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)

Q&A Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic preparedness is the process of strengthening the national, regional, and global systems so they are able to respond more quickly and effectively to pandemics and other health emergencies. Preparedness is essential to mitigating the morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic effects of a pandemic.
Resilience refers to the ability to sustain consistent capacities before, during, and after a pandemic. Health systems should be able to recover from a pandemic while maintaining the capacities gained during the emergency situation.
Planning for pandemics includes improving capacities (i.e. 5 Cs emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, clinical care and access to countermeasures) in the interpandemic period as well as generating procedures for responding to pandemics.

The Multi-Hazard Response Framework (MRF) is to improve the capacity of countries to manage their response to emergencies and disasters in a more efficient and timely manner. Implementation of this framework will provide countries with adequate response planning based on a multi-hazard approach. This will lead to better use of available resources and greater flexibility to deal with any type of event.

The IHR (2005) outlines core capacities that countries must achieve to prepare for public health emergencies, such as pandemics. Pandemic planning includes activities that help countries meet their obligations under the IHR and achieve core capacities that
WHO resolutions WHO58.5 and WHO74.7 commit to supporting Member States in strengthening pandemic preparedness planning for respiratory pathogens in alignment with the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR).

One Health is an approach to public health which recognizes the close links between human, animal, and environmental health. The One Health approach is a key component of pandemic preparedness. Firstly, it underscores the need to include all sectors in planning for and responding to pandemics. Secondly, One Health capacities are essential to detecting pandemics. The One Health approach recognizes the significant threat posed by zoonotic diseases, and therefore the need to support surveillance activities and laboratory strengthening.

Pandemic preparedness requires action from leaders in the government and other sectors. Advocates are key to ensuring that pandemic preparedness stays on political agendas and that resources are consistently dedicated to preparedness. It is important for advocates in all relevant sectors to emphasize the benefits of investing in preparedness, which include preventing deaths and economic losses.

The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative takes an innovative, shared-learning approach to improve preparedness for future pandemics:
PRET Initiative- Mode of Transmission-based Approach to Pandemic Preparedness
Recognize the use of common systems, capabilities, knowledge, and tools for a group of pathogens based on their mode of transmission.
Maximize available resources, builds technical coherence, increases coordination, and reduces duplication of efforts. Align with broader health strategies, including the IHR (2005) core capacity implementation.

Developing respiratory pathogens pandemic preparedness plans requires a multisectoral approach. PAHO provides technical assistance to countries to develop their plans.

A pathogen-specific approach includes plans designed based on the specific circumstances of a particular pathogen. For example, most countries have a national plan for influenza because this virus is so common.
In an emergency scenario, public health guidance is targeted toward the pathogen of concern. Public health protocols are adapted based on how the pathogen is spread to ensure the proper measures to prevent transmission and treat the infected.

The 5 C’s refer to the five activities which are essential for preparedness. They are: emergency coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, clinical care, and access to countermeasures.

Pandemics impact all aspects of society. Therefore, preparing for and responding to pandemics should include all of the relevant stakeholders. This includes all sectors– government, civil society, private sector, and more. It also includes actors at all levels, from communities to national, regional, and global organizations.

A mode-of-transmission specific approach accounts for how pathogens are spread. The mode of transmission determines what public health measures must be taken to combat the outbreak. For example, during a respiratory pathogen pandemic, it is important to ensure the public has access to masks.