The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has launched a new global platform aimed at strengthening animal disease prevention and saving the world economy more than US$300 billion annually lost to animal diseases.
The initiative, dubbed the PREVENT Forum, was unveiled during WOAH’s 93rd World Assembly of Delegates in Paris as a five-year public-private platform designed to improve vaccination strategies and expand access to quality animal vaccines.
According to WOAH, animal diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, bluetongue and Newcastle disease continue to inflict major economic and social losses globally.
The organisation estimates that animal diseases cost the global economy over US$300 billion every year, while vaccination rates for most notifiable diseases remain below 20 per cent.
WOAH said the PREVENT Forum seeks to bridge gaps in vaccine access, regulation and financing by bringing together governments, vaccine manufacturers, veterinary professionals, regulators, producer organisations, donors and international agencies in a structured year-round dialogue.
“The PREVENT Forum gives governments and industry a shared space to identify what is holding back progress and to act on it together,” said Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran.
She noted that although vaccines are among the most powerful tools for combating animal diseases, “access, regulation and financing gaps mean the potential is far from fully realised.”
The platform’s work will revolve around seven priority areas represented by the acronym PREVENT — Planning, Regulatory pathways, Economic evidence, Vaccine access, Equity, National strategies and Trade.
WOAH said these are the key areas where stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors is needed to improve prevention efforts.
The launch follows growing global concern over the impact of animal diseases on food security, trade, livelihoods and public health.
WOAH’s recent State of the World’s Animal Health report called for increased investment in veterinary systems and disease prevention measures to reduce risks to global health and economies.
WOAH emphasised that vaccination, alongside stronger biosecurity, surveillance, early detection and rapid response systems, remains one of the most effective measures for preventing and controlling animal diseases.
Expanding vaccine access could also help curb antimicrobial resistance and protect livelihoods dependent on livestock production.
The PREVENT Forum also aims to support commitments made under the 2024 UN Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance, which urged countries to develop national animal vaccination strategies.
In addition, the initiative aligns with WOAH Resolution No. 29 adopted in 2025 calling for structured public-private dialogue to integrate vaccination more effectively into animal health systems.
During its first year, the forum will conduct a global stakeholder survey to assess barriers related to vaccine access, regulation and financing. Findings from the survey will inform the forum’s inaugural global technical session scheduled for October 2026 and contribute to the development of a global declaration on animal vaccination.
WOAH said the initiative is intended to shift animal health investment from being viewed as a cost to being recognised as a strategic investment essential for global resilience, food systems and economic stability.
