As the world continues to reel out of the terrible experiences of the coronavirus pandemic, a top British scientist has warned that the next one is "absolutely inevitable."
Sir Patrick Vallance, the former chief scientific adviser to the UK government, has issued a stern warning that another pandemic is an inevitability, urging the incoming administration to prioritize preparedness efforts to avoid a repeat of the Covid-19 crisis.
Speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys, Vallance emphasised the pressing need for the UK government to implement robust surveillance systems capable of rapidly detecting emerging threats. "We are not ready yet," he cautioned, stressing the importance of learning from the hard-won lessons of the recent pandemic.
Reflecting on his advice to G7 leaders in 2021, Vallance reiterated the necessity for a coordinated global approach to develop rapid diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments. "We need to be much faster, much more aligned," he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
He further lamented that by 2023, the G7 had seemingly "forgotten" about the points he had raised.
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."
While acknowledging steps in the right direction, such as the World Health Organization's proposed pandemic accord, Vallance expressed concern over the lack of sustained focus on this critical issue. "If this gets pushed off G7 and G20 agendas, we'll be in exactly the same position," he warned, emphasising the importance of maintaining momentum.
Several scientists across the world have raised alerts calling for stricter codes to manage future pandemic, warning that the next breakout will happen and that it's just a matter of time
