Global animal health threats are no longer distant risks—they are immediate economic disruptors. From the devastating spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the persistent threat of Newcastle disease, the cost of “acting too late” has reached a staggering $300 billion annually. Despite these stakes, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reports that vaccination rates for the most critical notifiable diseases remain stalled below 20%.
To close this gap, WOAH officially launched the PREVENT Forum on May 19. This five-year public-private platform is designed to dismantle the barriers preventing widespread vaccine adoption and to modernize global animal health defense.
A Strategic Response to a Global Crisis
The forum’s launch follows the publication of The State of the World’s Animal Health, that calls for better-resourced animal health systems to protect human health, food security, trade and livelihoods.
“The PREVENT Forum is a concrete response to that call, advancing prevention through structured public-private dialogue with a strong focus on vaccination,” WOAH reports. “Vaccination is one of the most effective tools available to prevent and control animal diseases, alongside strengthened biosecurity, surveillance, early detection and rapid response.”
By expanding access to quality vaccines, PREVENT aims to protect livelihoods, support food security and contribute to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Unlike previous high-level dialogues, this forum is built around seven specific priority areas that address the practical “why” behind low vaccination rates:
- Planning and Regulatory pathways
- Economic evidence
- Vaccine access and Equity
- National strategies and Trade
The forum seeks to align the entire supply chain—from the lab to the barn.
A Shared Space for Action
The initiative will culminate in its first global technical session in October 2026, where members intend to draft a global declaration to overcome existing regulatory and financial barriers.
“Vaccines are one of our most powerful tools against animal disease — but access, regulation and financing gaps mean the potential is far from fully realized,” says Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General, WOAH. “The PREVENT Forum gives governments and industry a shared space to identify what is holding back progress and to act on it together. WOAH is proud to convene this effort, and we are committed to ensuring it delivers results for our members and strengthens animal health systems globally.”
