The 2020–2021 biennial progress report of thePandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution (PC) showcases public health gains made collaboratively with other investments.
The report, which covers the third and fourth years of the PIP PC’s High-Level Implementation Plan II (2018–2023), describes how industry partner contributions were allocated and used to strengthen preparedness globally, regionally and nationally in 80 targeted countries.
Since the PIP PC was established in 2012, it has received more than US$ 252 million from industry partners to support activities in six areas of work: laboratory and surveillance, burden of disease, regulatory capacity building, risk communications and community engagement, planning for pandemic product deployment, and influenza pandemic preparedness planning. WHO sincerely thanks industry partners for their contributions.
2020–2021 achievements
Much was achieved in the last two years. Of the 17 HLIP II indicators with targets, 47% met or exceeded the biennial target. Progress on other indicators, especially around deployment planning, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic although the lessons being learnt from ongoing emergency responses will inform and strengthen future influenza pandemic planning and operations.
Key achievements include:
- New National Influenza Centres (NICs). After strengthening diagnostic testing and laboratory quality management systems, Suriname and Togo’s influenza laboratories were recognized as NICs and joined the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). This brings the total number of NICs globally to 148 in 124 countries.
- Global reporting gains. Global reporting by the 41 countries supported by PIP PC for laboratory and surveillance activities exceeded biennial targets, with 90% of countries reporting virological data to FluNet and 71% reporting epidemiological data to FluID. Data sharing is critical to monitor influenza activity and to inform risk assessments
- Virus sharing and characterization. GISRS characterized 2 440 zoonotic influenza viruses and other influenza viruses with pandemic potential during the biennium. The viruses were of 25 influenza A subtypes originating from 28 countries. As a result, through four vaccine composition meetings, seven new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic influenza were developed.
- Burden estimates. Nine countries published influenza burden of disease estimates and seven updated previous findings. This brings the number of countries with published estimates to 48. Having burden data is critical to inform evidence-based influenza prevention and control policies.
- Regulatory system strengthening. Two out of 16 target countries increased their regulatory capacities based on WHO benchmarking assessments.
- RCCE learning. The OpenWHO online learning platform for frontline responders was launched in 2017 using PIP investments. By December 2021, more than 228 000 users had completed RCCE courses related to influenza in multiple languages.
- Product deployment planning. WHO started a project to estimate national, regional and global needs and gaps for pandemic influenza preparedness products, including vaccines, antivirals, diagnostics and therapeutics. Using foresight methodologies, this analysis will inform product allocation and deployment strategies, and the development of operational plans for product deployment.
- Preparedness plans. A total of 51 (out of 63) countries have written, exercised or are developing national pandemic influenza preparedness plans.