Standing committee on pandemics to focus on future pathogen-related threats
An expert group advising the Scottish government on future pandemic preparedness is meeting for the first time on 19 August, amid growing global concerns over the spread of more dangerous Covid-19 variants.
The Standing Committee on Pandemics—announced by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon in May as a priority for the first 100 days in office of Scotland’s new government—will ensure that the country “is as prepared as possible for any future risks from novel pathogens”.
It will advise on areas including public health, epidemiology, global health and statistical modelling, the government said in a 19 August release.
The first meeting of the group is expected to discuss its future work programme and remit.
The interim chair of the committee and University of Edinburgh professor Linda Bauld praised its establishment, saying that it is “critical for scientists and officials to work alongside each other to make sure Scotland can meet the challenges infectious diseases will throw at us in the future”.
Scottish chief medical officer Gregor Smith, a member of the committee, said the group will not only “play a vital role” in advising the government on human and animal health, but also deal with “behavioural and societal factors which could affect how we respond to a pandemic in the future".
Scottish health secretary Humza Yousaf credited the country’s “world-class scientific expertise” with its pandemic response so far, adding that the new expert group will “bolster” Scotland’s readiness for emerging threats.
The committee was created in addition to an existing advisory group, which will continue to advise ministers on the pandemic, according to the government.