At the request of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the National Academies convened a committee to examine lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and mpox multi-country outbreak to inform an evaluation of the state of smallpox research, development, and stockpiling of medical countermeasures (MCM). In the resulting report, the committee presents findings and conclusions that may inform U.S. Government investment decisions in smallpox MCM readiness, as well as the official U.S. position on the disposition of live viral collections at future World Health Assembly meetings.

Table of Contents

Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures Readiness 3 Factors Influencing Smallpox Readiness and Response 4 Way Forward: Priorities for Research, Development, and Stockpiling Appendix A: Study Methods and Public Meeting Agendas Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographical Sketches