Research-Aid Networks is pleased to announce the relaunch of Pandemic-Aid Networks, with a new, broader focus on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR).

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pandemic-Aid Networks created a highly-successful collaborative environment where citizens and community groups focused on COVID-19 could connect with each other and the science community. Unfortunately, the pandemic is not over, with continued infections, fatalities and new cases of Long Covid. What’s more, many countries and communities do not seem to have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global Health Security Index has found that “all countries remain dangerously unprepared for future epidemic and pandemic threats”, with most countries having a similar level of pandemic preparedness as they did in 2019, before COVID-19. This level of preparedness was clearly inadequate to address COVID-19 and data from a 2022 study showed that even countries with the highest reported levels of preparedness in 2019 did not do any better at preventing infections or fatalities. In contrast, countries with higher levels of trust, both in the government and between people, had lower rates of infection.  

As we wrote for the 2023 United Nations PPPR meeting, without the trust of the people, pandemic preparedness and responses will always fail. This is because effective responses require the collective action of individuals. Most of these individuals have no medical or scientific training and are dependent on effective communication from authorities and experts that they trust. Unfortunately, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic this trusted communication has often failed, decreasing public engagement in pandemic responses and further eroding trust in science and the government. In order to effectively manage the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics, we must begin by repairing this trust and effective communication. Through Pandemic-Aid Networks we aim to support community-based organizations and initiatives working to build the trust, communication and community support that is needed now but also may enable more effective responses for the next pandemic. We will provide the scientific expertise and resources needed for these organizations to make informed assessments and to effectively communicate guidance and actions to their communities. Through Pandemic-Aid Networks COVID-19 and PPPR organizations can collaborate and share expertise and resources, helping to develop more effective responses now and for the future. 

If you, as an individual or organization, are working on COVID-19 responses, Long Covid and other post-infection illnesses or any other aspect of pandemic prevention, preparedness or response we welcome your application to join Pandemic-Aid Networks and help to improve health security for your community and for communities around the world.

The application and additional information about our approach can be found below.