Top scientist warns another pandemic ‘absolutely inevitable’

Patrick Vallance, the British government’s former chief scientific adviser, warned that another pandemic was “absolutely inevitable” and urged the new government to prioritize preparations. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys, Vallance stressed that the country was not yet ready for another outbreak.

He stressed that the next government will need to implement better surveillance systems to quickly detect emerging threats. He reiterated his message to G7 leaders in 2021, calling for rapid diagnostic tests, vaccines and treatments to avoid the extreme measures seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures, Vallance believes, are feasible but require coordinated efforts, reported The Guardian.

“We know we have to have an army, not because there will be a war this year, but because it is an important part of what we need as a nation,” he said , according to The Guardian report.

He cautioned against cutting funding for pandemic preparedness simply because there is no immediate threat.

Vallance also mentioned the World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement as a positive step, but criticized the lack of focus and urgency. He warned that if pandemic preparedness was removed from the G7 and G20 agenda, the world would not be prepared for the next outbreak.

He also addressed the effectiveness of public inquiries, suggesting a faster and more efficient process is needed.