Across the globe, tens of millions died, healthcare systems were overwhelmed, and economies were disrupted. While science and global response led to many important achievements, the COVID-19 pandemic also exposed key gaps in governance, policy and funding. It is critical that these considerations be incorporated into global responses to future pandemics.
One year into the pandemic, millions of children have been displaced from school and millions more are missing out on opportunities to learn and work. This robs families of income and could widen the inequality gap globally. It could also undermine progress on global poverty and climate goals.
A successful pandemic response requires a dynamic approach that can rapidly adjust working assumptions – impacted by epidemiology, changing science, policies and interventions, supply, demand, manufacturing and country-level challenges. Mechanisms must be able to freely evolve to meet shifting priorities, and should have sufficient flexibility to allow for the high level of risk tolerance required to operate in a highly unpredictable environment. The Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator is a global collaboration of health organisations, businesses, governments and philanthropies working together to get lifesaving tests, treatments and vaccines from the lab to frontline health services.