WHO members adopt a ‘pandemic agreement’ born out of the disjointed global COVID response

GENEVA AP The World Medical Organization s member countries on Tuesday approved an agreement to better prevent prepare for and respond to future pandemics in the wake of the devastation wrought by the coronavirus Sustained applause echoed in a Geneva hall hosting the WHO s annual assembly as the measure debated and devised over three years passed without opposition The treaty guarantees that countries which share virus samples will receive tests medicines and vaccines Up to of such products would be given to the WHO to ensure poorer countries have selected access to them when the next pandemic hits WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has touted the agreement as historic and a sign of multilateralism at a time when plenty of countries are putting national interests ahead of shared values and cooperation Dr Esperance Luvindao Namibia s wellbeing minister and the chair of a committee that paved the way for Tuesday s adoption stated that the COVID- pandemic inflicted huge costs on lives livelihoods and economies We as sovereign states have resolved to join hands as one world together so we can protect our children elders frontline fitness workers and all others from the next pandemic Luvindao added It is our duty and responsibility to humanity The treaty s effectiveness will face doubts because the United States which poured billions into speedy work by pharmaceutical companies to develop COVID- vaccines is sitting out and because countries face no penalties if they ignore it a common issue in international law The U S traditionally the top donor to the U N medical agency was not part of the final stages of the agreement process after the Trump administration stated a U S pullout from the WHO and funding to the agency in January Source