Rapid and Equitable Access to Medical Countermeasures: Lessons, Landscape, and Near-Term Recommendations

Rapid, equitable access to medical countermeasures (MCM) is essential to mitigate the health and economic consequences of future pandemic risks, which are driven by the length of time it takes to equip the world with the diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics to identify and combat transmission. This note takes a quick look at the lessons learned and the existing landscape of MCM manufacturing in the context of the current pandemic response and suggests eight areas for action along with near-term recommendations to the global community to both prepare and respond to future pandemic risks.  The note is a first effort to make sense of the terrain and bring together ideas on what should happen in the next phase of pandemic preparedness and response, but each requires greater refinement and broader consultation and discussion.