Recommendation 2

The Department does not yet have a clear plan in place for a national emergency stockpile for any future pandemic. The stockpile held by the Department was invaluable for the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic but it does not currently have a plan for the level or composition of the desired stockpile for any future pandemics. The Department was limited in its response to COVID-19 by the lack of domestic production of PPE and it has advised that it is working on strengthening domestic PPE supply chains. As well as the significant volumes of PPE it purchased, and is now disposing of, the Department has entered into contracts for both COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 medicines which commit it to procure future stock. It recognised impairments in 2021–22 of £1.7 billion for COVID-19 vaccines and £1.8 billion for COVID-19 medicines with a limited shelf life which it now does not expect to use. 6 Department of Health and Social Care 2021–22 Annual Report and Accounts Recommendation 2: The Department should develop and implement a clear, cost-effective plan for a national emergency stockpile to respond to any future pandemic.