UK launches £1bn Pandemic Preparedness Strategy

The framework is accompanied by roughly £1bn in funding aimed at strengthening vaccine access, surveillance systems, and national testing capacity.

Published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the strategy coincides with the government’s formal response to findings from the Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, which examined decision-making and governance during the pandemic.

Speaking on the new strategy, UK Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, said: “It’s right we learn the lessons from the devastating impact Covid-19 had on our health service and society. Our new pandemic strategy marks a major improvement in the government’s preparedness for future pandemics.

“Whether increasing the supply of British-made vaccines, or stockpiling PPE for key workers, we’re working with partners across the public and private sector to take action to keep the country safe.”

A shift from influenza-focused planning

The new Pandemic Preparedness Strategy replaces the UK’s 2011 pandemic influenza plan, reflecting a broader approach to managing a wider range of biological threats.

Rather than focusing on a single class of virus, the updated framework introduces a more flexible, “all hazards” model designed to respond to multiple pathogen types.

Central to this shift is a planned All Pandemic Hazards Bill, which would provide a pre-prepared legislative toolkit. The intention is to allow faster deployment of emergency powers and public health interventions without the delays seen during COVID-19.

Strengthening infrastructure and stockpiles

Several operational measures are already underway. The government confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPE) reserves will continue to be expanded and diversified to avoid shortages seen earlier in the pandemic.

In parallel, stockpiles of laboratory chemicals and diagnostic materials are being increased to reduce vulnerability to supply chain disruptions during the early stages of a pandemic. These steps are intended to ensure testing systems can scale rapidly.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will also develop enhanced capabilities for mass testing and contact tracing. This includes infrastructure designed to be activated quickly in response to emerging threats.

Data, coordination, and decision-making

A key lesson from COVID-19 reflected in the strategy is the need for better data integration.

The government plans to review how information is collected, shared, and communicated across agencies and with the public. The aim is to ensure that decision-makers have timely access to consistent and transparent data during crises.

The response to the Covid-19 Inquiry also outlines reforms to advisory structures, including changes to how scientific experts are selected for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). These updates are intended to improve the robustness and independence of scientific input during emergencies.

In addition, new protocols will give devolved administrations more direct access to emergency briefings, addressing previous concerns about coordination across the UK’s four nations.

National exercise informs policy

The strategy draws heavily on findings from Exercise Pegasus, a large-scale simulation conducted in autumn 2025.

The exercise involved all major government departments, devolved governments, and regional resilience bodies responding to a hypothetical outbreak scenario over several weeks.

Insights from the exercise highlighted gaps in coordination, logistics, and communication – many of which are addressed in the new framework.

Vaccine manufacturing and supply chain resilience

The government has also taken steps to reinforce domestic vaccine production capacity.

A long-term partnership with Moderna has led to the development of a vaccine research and manufacturing facility in Oxfordshire. The site is expected to play a role in ensuring rapid access to vaccines during future pandemics.

Focus on vulnerable populations

Another area of reform is the integration of equity considerations into emergency planning. The government says future pandemic responses will place greater emphasis on protecting vulnerable groups, a point repeatedly raised during the Covid-19 Inquiry.

Taken together, the Pandemic Preparedness Strategy represents a structural reset in how the UK approaches pandemic preparedness.

While many of the measures remain in development, the combination of legislative planning, infrastructure investment, and institutional reform signals a move toward a more anticipatory and system-wide model of pandemic response.