How the UK intends to rebuild readiness for future pandemics
through a whole-of-government approach that prioritises the needs
of the most vulnerable.
Introduction and principles (UK
wide)
UK government approach to
implementing the strategy (England only)
Pandemic Preparedness Strategy:
building our capabilities (PDF version)
Details
This publication sets out the commitment of all 4 nations of the
UK to:
- rebuild readiness and prepare underlying capabilities for
future pandemics
- take rapid co-ordinated action to protect communities
equitably
- minimise disruption in people's lives
In support of this joined-up approach, the strategy includes
principles for pandemic preparedness endorsed by all 4 nations of
the UK. All 4 governments in the UK will:
- develop and implement their approaches to improve
preparedness
- work together to develop cross-UK capabilities
The strategy builds on:
- lessons identified from the COVID-19 pandemic and the
UK Covid-19 Inquiry
- early findings from the national pandemic exercise (‘Exercise
Pegasus'), which aimed to test our ability to respond to a
pandemic and involved all regions and nations of the UK and
thousands of participants.
A full report of all findings from Exercise Pegasus is due to be
published in winter 2026.
The publication fulfils a commitment in the government response to the
UK Covid-19 Inquiry module 1 report and replaces the outdated
2011 UK Influenza Pandemic
Preparedness Strategy.
Where this strategy applies
The ‘UK government approach to implementing the strategy'
includes actions to implement improvements to pandemic
preparedness in England by 2030, while the ‘Introduction and
principles' apply to the whole of the UK. This is also signposted
in the PDF version.
