Maria Elena Bottazzi · "If we want to prevent the next pandemic, we need to invest in vaccines *before..."

Op-ed co-authored in *The New York Times*, 2023 · Checked on 14 March 2026

If we want to prevent the next pandemic, we need to invest in vaccines *before* the crisis hits. Preparedness is not optional; it’s a necessity.

Analysis

The statement reflects widely accepted principles in public health, emphasizing *proactive* over *reactive* strategies. The WHO’s [Global Preparedness Monitoring Board](https://apps.who.int/gpmb/) and the [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)](https://cepi.net/) explicitly advocate for advance R&D to accelerate vaccine deployment during outbreaks. Bottazzi’s work—including her role in developing a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine at Baylor College of Medicine—further underscores her authority on the subject. No credible counterarguments dispute the necessity of preparedness, though debates persist over *funding mechanisms* and *equitable distribution*.

Background

Pandemic preparedness has been a priority since at least the 2005 International Health Regulations, yet gaps in funding and coordination were exposed during COVID-19. The [2021 G20 Pandemic Preparedness Report](https://www.g20.org/) estimated that investing **$75 billion over 5 years** could prevent losses of **$5.3 trillion** from future pandemics. Bottazzi’s op-ed echoes calls from the [World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics) and [Gavi](https://www.gavi.org/) for sustainable financing models to avoid repeat crises.

Verdict summary

Maria Elena Bottazzi’s assertion that preemptive vaccine investment is critical for pandemic preparedness aligns with consensus among global health experts and organizations like the WHO and CDC.

Sources consulted

— World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). *Global Preparedness Monitoring Board: A World in Disorder*. [https://apps.who.int/gpmb/](https://apps.who.int/gpmb/)

— Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). (2023). *100 Days Mission to Combat Future Threats*. [https://cepi.net/](https://cepi.net/)

— G20 High Level Independent Panel. (2021). *A Global Deal for Our Pandemic Age*. [https://pandemicpanel.org/](https://pandemicpanel.org/)

— Baylor College of Medicine. (2023). *Corbevax: A Patent-Free COVID-19 Vaccine*. [https://www.bcm.edu/](https://www.bcm.edu/)

— World Bank. (2022). *From Panic and Neglect to Investing in Pandemic Preparedness*. [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics](https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics)