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New agency will focus on preparing and protecting UK from future pandemics

BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n819 (Published 24 March 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;372:n819
  1. Adrian O’Dowd
  1. London, UK

The government has unveiled its new body—the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) —with the specific remit of preparing the UK for future pandemics such as covid-19.

The agency will start its work next month and be fully operational by the autumn to lead on protecting the UK against future external health threats such as infectious diseases. Its primary focus will be the continued fight against the covid-19 pandemic and it will be led by England’s deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries.

This body was originally announced in August last year as the National Institute for Health Protection when the government confirmed that it was closing Public Health England (PHE) and merging its …

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