Countries are underprepared for the next pandemic, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said Jan. 30.
Based on delays in COVID-19 care, the IFRC said the world needs to work on health inequities and supporting vulnerable communities before the next crisis. Persistent issues include poor sanitation, overcrowding, lack of healthcare access and malnutrition.
"When people trusted safety messages, they were willing to comply with public health measures that sometimes separated them from their loved ones in order to slow the spread of the disease and save lives," the organization said in a statement. "Similarly, it was only possible to vaccinate millions of people in record time when most of them trusted that the vaccines were safe and effective."
"Those responding to crises cannot wait until the next time to build trust," the IFRC added.