Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework

The PIP Framework is a broad-based partnership to improve global pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The Framework, which grew out of the re-emergence of A(H5N1) influenza in 2004, was adopted by WHO’s 194 Member States at the World Health Assembly on 24 May 2011. Section 6.14.3 of the Framework establishes an annual Partnership Contribution (“PC”) to be paid by influenza vaccine, diagnostic and pharmaceutical manufacturers using the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). Resources contributed are to be used to strengthen pandemic influenza preparedness and response. WHO has published two prior high-level implementation plans to outline the use of the PC preparedness funds. In order to continue the strategic use of the PC funds, this document will build upon the gains made in the implementation of the previous two plans, take into account lessons from COVID-19 and take into consideration the evolving global landscape for pandemic and epidemic preparedness. The document will enable stakeholders to see at a high level, the approach for use of PC funds and priority areas for capacity-building for the period 2024-2030. The document will describe the current context, layout a results hierarchy and define the project management processes that are key for successful implementation.

This guidance is an update of WHO global influenza preparedness plan: the role of WHO and recommendations for national measures before and during pandemics, published March 2005 (WHO/CDS/CSR/GIP/2005.5).

The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP Framework) was unanimously adopted by the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly in May 2011. This second edition reflects an amendment made to the Framework by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019. The objective of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework is to improve pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and strengthen the protection against the pandemic influenza by improving and strengthening the WHO global influenza surveillance and response system (“WHO GISRS”), with the objective of a fair, transparent, equitable, efficient, effective system for, on an equal footing: the sharing of H5N1 and other influenza viruses with human pandemic potential; and access to vaccines and sharing of other benefits.

The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework is a World Health Assembly resolution adopted unanimously by all Member States in 2011. It brings together Member States, industry, other stakeholders and WHO to implement a global approach to pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The Framework includes a benefit-sharing mechanism called the Partnership Contribution (PC). The PC is collected as an annual cash contribution from influenza vaccine, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that use the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). Funds are allocated for: (a) pandemic preparedness capacity building; (b) response activities during the time of an influenza pandemic; and (c) PIP Secretariat for the management and implementation of the Framework. This report presents overall success metrics and infographics to illustrate progress in PIP Framework implementation. A progress report is published four times a biennium, and covers technical and financial implementation for the PIP PC High-Level Implementation Plan II (HLIP II), as well as the PIP Secretariat. Milestones are reported every six months and indicators are reported yearly. All data are presented cumulatively from the beginning of each biennium, in this case, 1 January 2020.

Sharing biological resources-critical for new medicines and vaccines-has declined as countries and scientists dispute rights over research.

Section 6.14.3 of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework established an annual Partnership Contribution (PC) to be paid by influenza vaccine, diagnostic and pharmaceutical manufacturers using the WHO global influenza surveillance and response system (GISRS). Resources contributed are to be used to strengthen pandemic influenza preparedness and response. For 2018-2023, the second High-Level Implementation Plan (HLIP II) guides the use of PC Preparedness Funds. In 2021, as planned under Section 6.2.3.3 of the HLIP II, an external Mid-Term Review was conducted to assess progress, consider changes in the landscape for global pandemic influenza preparedness and discuss potential ‘mid-course adjustments’ needed for future HLIP II implementation. This revision to the HLIP II responds to recommendation #1 of the 2021 HLIP II Mid-Term Review. It includes amendments to the Monitoring & Evaluation framework of the plan (Annex 3) to consider HLIP II implementation and progress on the results hierarchy between 2018 and 2020.

In November 2018, an ad hoc planning committee at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine planned two sister workshops held in Washington, DC, to examine the lessons from influenza pandemics and other major outbreaks, understand the extent to which the lessons have been learned, and discuss how they could be applied further to ensure that countries are sufficiently ready for future pandemics. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from both workshops.