Led by thought leaders in the seasonal influenza and pandemic readiness space, Ready2Respond has formed three Expert Working Groups to design and execute cross-collaborative projects focused on three strategic priorities of work: Burden of Disease; Risk Communication and Community Engagement; and Vaccine Access. Their goal is to reduce obstacles that low- and middle-income countries face in creating sustainable vaccine delivery programs to combat future seasonal influenza epidemics, as well as influenza and other viral respiratory pandemics.
The Projects of the Expert Working Groups Will:
- Account for burden of disease (from an epidemiologic and economic of view) in LMICs’ at-risk populations.
- Test, evaluate and implement best practices in risk communication and community engagement, leveraging behavioral and social sciences, to elevate vaccine adoption and increase vaccine demand in LMICs.
- Optimize the vaccine access framework and spur LMICs’ national programs to acquire, equitably deliver and evaluate epidemic vaccines, taking advantage of seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccination experiences.
Ready2Respond is positioned to help address some of the vital gaps that exist in country-level preparedness. It is committed to ensuring that evidence based influenza vaccination programs are initiated and/or expanded and sustained in all countries, especially low- and middle-income countries. Working in partnership with Ministries of Health and other technical partners in country, Ready2Respond’s approach will align with the WHO Global Influenza Strategy, 2019 2030, WHO’s coronavirus strategies, as well as with the Global Health Security Agenda.