Regional Consultation on Vaccine and Immunization Research Preparedness for Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Outbreaks and Pandemics, 14–16 April 2026, New Delhi, India

Overview

COVID-19 revealed that the Region’s challenge was not vaccine development speed, but
the timely generation of context-specific evidence on effectiveness, safety, delivery, and
community acceptance. Research was reactive, fragmented, and hampered by diverging
regulatory requirements, incompatible protocols, and an infodemic that eroded public
trust. Recurrent outbreaks of measles, Nipah, dengue, and diphtheria — including an active
measles outbreak in Bangladesh at the time of this consultation — underscore that research
preparedness is a permanent, not a pandemic-era, priority.

With this context, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and CEPI co-hosted a
three-day Regional Consultation from 14 to 16 April 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together
more than 90 participants (both face-to-face and virtual) from all Member States, the SEARITAG, vaccine manufacturers, academic institutions, regulatory authorities, and
development partners. The consultation aimed to strengthen vaccine and immunization
research readiness during outbreaks and pandemics in the WHO South-East Asia Region by
developing a framework for a responsive, well-governed, and collaborative immunization
research ecosystem.

For this Regional Consultation, WHO SEARO developed a draft framework for Vaccine and
Immunization Research Preparedness, organized around six pillars — Basic Science
Research; Clinical and Epidemiological Research; Health Research Governance; Vaccine
Market and Manufacturing Research; Implementation Research; and Behavioural, Social,
and Communication Research — supported by five common enablers: data sharing,
digitalization and AI, funding mechanisms, collaborations, and knowledge sharing. The
framework’s overarching goal is to establish a ready-to-activate, coordinated, and resilient
research ecosystem enabling rapid, equitable, and effective responses to VPD outbreaks
and pandemics, while simultaneously strengthening routine immunization systems.

The inaugural session highlighted the urgent need for a robust and ready immunization
research ecosystem in the Region. Dr Catharina Boehme emphasized gaps in timely
evidence generation during COVID-19 and the potential of the 100-Day Mission. Dr Kent
Kester reaffirmed CEPI’s partnership with WHO SEARO under CEPI 3.0, keeping the 100-Day
Mission as the strategic north star. Dr Rajiv Bahl showcased India’s readiness infrastructure
— the One Health Mission, INTENT trial network, and BSL-4 laboratories — as potential
regional assets. Prof. VK Paul, in his chief guest remarks, called on the Region to respond to
the next pandemic “not scrambling, but with pre-established, well-tested, coordinated
systems”. He also urged WHO to prioritize research and support in strengthening the
research ecosystem in the Region.