Medical countermeasures (MCMs) such as vaccines and therapeutics are often more pathogen-specific than NPIs, but may be required to exit the pandemic (as was the case with COVID vaccines).

When it comes to developing and deploying MCMs, time is of the essence. The COVID vaccine was the [fastest ever](https://ourworldindata.org/vaccination#vaccine-technology-has-advanced-dramatically) from discovery of the virus to development and deployment, but there is more we can do to shorten this for future pandemics.

‘Broad-spectrum’ vaccines and therapeutics, effective against multiple species and strains of pathogens, could be developed, tested and stockpiled ahead of time. ‘Platform’ vaccines (such as mRNA vaccines) can be quickly repurposed for novel pathogens when we identify them. Innovations in clinical trial design could cut the time required to test new MCMs before health authorities are confident to safely deploy them to the population.

When thinking about MCMs, we must keep in mind the differences between natural pandemics and sophisticated bioattacks. Vaccines are one of the most important lifesaving technologies ever against many natural diseases, but there remain diseases such as HIV for which we lack effective vaccines despite decades of trying.

We must assume that a highly competent adversary is unlikely to attack using a pandemic-class agent that could be blocked by an existing broad-spectrum vaccine, and would be capable of making multiple variants requiring distinct targeted vaccines. In this scenario, we may need to lean more heavily on the physical barriers discussed in unit 4.


Rapid MCM overview

It's likely that we won't have effective medical countermeasures ready to go from day 0 of a pandemic.
Even if we do, we need to test their efficacy and safety against the novel pathogen, and then deploy them around the world. This is much more than just an R&D problem!


Rapid MCM development deep-dive

Pick 1 of the following 4 topics to dive deeper into. We've given you some resources on the following pages as a starting point.

- **Option 1: Faster R&D**
- **Option 2: Clinical trials innovation**
- **Option 3: Better financing and procurement**
- **Option 4: Faster manufacturing and delivery**

You will bring the results of your research to share in your group discussion.


Option 1: Faster R&D

Option 2: Clinical trials innovation

Option 3: Better financing and procurement

Option 4: Faster manufacturing and delivery

Biosecurity

Explore how to accelerate vaccine development, and how broad-spectrum antivirals can treat multiple threats before pathogen-specific treatments exist.

Rapid Medical Countermeasures

Building biodefences is both urgent and achievable: pandemics have killed millions, AI and synthetic biology are creating new threats, but a radically more pandemic-proof world is possible.

Building a Pandemic-Proof World

Examine upstream interventions that stop threats before they emerge: AI safeguards, DNA synthesis screening, the Biological Weapons Convention, lab biosafety standards, and governance of risky research.

Preventing Engineered Pandemics

Learn how metagenomic sequencing can detect novel pathogens, how to rapidly characterise emerging threats, and how swift containment can stop transmission before widespread outbreaks.

Detecting Early Infections

Discover pathogen-agnostic defences deployable within hours: next-generation PPE, far-UVC air treatment, and biohardening strategies that protect people before we know what we're facing.

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Map the biosecurity landscape and identify where your specific skills can contribute: organisations hiring across policy and technology, concrete projects seeking talent, and pathways into the field.

Biosecurity

Rapid MCM overview

Resources (1 hr 50 mins)