SINGAPORE'S NATIONAL STATEMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON PANDEMIC PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

President, Excellencies

1.       Post COVID-19 crisis, the members of the World Health Organization (WHO) had a plan to prepare for the next pandemic. It involves negotiating and developing a unifying global framework for preparedness and equitable access. So the WHO Pandemic Agreement becomes that common framework to facilitate better sharing of pathogen information and provide access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. But there is a problem, which is that the pandemic agreement in itself does not address the issue of demand for vaccines exceeding supply during a pandemic crisis.

2.       Hence, we also need a Plan B, which is to build sustainable regional manufacturing resilience.  This is an ongoing effort, where regions identify their needs and strengthen capabilities across research, manufacturing, supply chains and regulation.  But it is not easy. The most effective vaccine may be discovered in any one of the thousands of laboratories in the world, and when that happens, there is a process of licensing, technological transfer, of having the right vaccine production platform, and these are processes that are not straightforward. In addition, these capacities must be ever-warm in peacetime and ready for activation during a crisis.

3.       And hence we also need a Plan C, one that leverages global networks, and this is where Singapore can make a focused contribution. First, we work with GISAID to facilitate the sharing of genomic data across countries. Second, we support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI) 100-day mission to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines when a pandemic threat is identified. Third, we set up flexible biofoundries, which can produce vaccines across all technological platforms and work with partners to scale up production during a crisis, to supply to our region and the world, because Singapore’s needs are very small.

4.       Taking this approach, Hilleman Laboratories, which is a joint venture between MSD and Wellcome Trust in Singapore, will be producing for clinical trials, a vaccine for Ebola Bundibugyo virus by the end of the year. If successful, arrangements have been made for production to be scaled up.

5.       The next pandemic is an evolutionary certainty. Preparedness is a living capability. Let us do all the right things and do things right, to build a safer and more resilient world. Thank you.