March 20, 2025, Member of the World Health Organization Announced the world’s first pandemic agreement after three years of “intensive negotiations spurred by the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.” Notably, the US chose not to participate. Who will you be withdrawing from?.
Experts in global health are Celebrating this agreement as a historic milestone.
What implications does this agreement hold for global safety and preparedness for future pandemics?
The discussion featured insights from Nicole Hasthorne, professor and executive director at Binghamton University. Global health impact elaborating on the pandemic Accord, future prospects for global health, and the significance of the US’s absence.
What does the pandemic agreement entail?
The Accord enhances pandemic preparedness on both domestic and global fronts.
Nations that sign this agreement commit to enhancing disease surveillance, bolstering the healthcare workforce, improving regulatory systems, and investing in research and development. It promotes strengthening health regulations, better public communication regarding pandemics, and increased funding for preparedness and response activities.
Additionally, it introduces new mechanisms for vaccine production and distribution. Countries are encouraged to coordinate their responses and share information regarding infectious diseases and intellectual property, expediting vaccine and essential measure availability.
The agreement will Become effective once ratified by sufficient nations, which may take several years.
Why is the US absent from this agreement?
The Biden administration had Expressed strong support for the pandemic agreement and actively participated in negotiations.
However, prior to Donald Trump’s reelection, the Republican governor had Opposed the treaty, echoing concerns from conservative think tanks regarding national sovereignty.
The US Withdrew from negotiations when Trump signed an executive order to leave the WHO on his first day of the second term.
How could the US absence benefit the global community?
The absence of the US may have resulted in a more equitable treaty, as it is uncertain if an agreement could have been reached with US opposition to crucial provisions.
Negotiations advanced without the US, leading to Consensus achieved. Prior discussions indicated that the US and several wealthy nations aimed to prioritize the pharmaceutical industry’s interests, resisting pressures to facilitate knowledge sharing for vaccine production and crucial measures.
Negotiators from other nations sought enhanced vaccine and treatment access during pandemics in less affluent countries.
In 2021, many affluent nation residents gained access to COVID-19 (COVID-19) vaccines, whereas numerous individuals in developing nations had to wait years for vaccination.
How will the agreement improve treatment access?
A debated topic within the pandemic agreement pertains to the necessity for vaccine manufacturers in each country to share information in return for access to genetic sequences of emerging pathogens. Negotiations are ongoing to create a system for sharing pathogenic genetic data, essential for vaccine research and development.
Moreover, the agreement promises global vaccine supply increases, enhancing manufacturing worldwide.
Additionally, the agreement stipulates that states and the WHO cooperate to establish mechanisms for equitably sharing intellectual property, data, and knowledge crucial for producing vaccines and essential health products. If funding for innovations ensures fair access to new technologies, individuals in poorer nations may receive vaccines much faster in future pandemics. The agreement also encourages nations to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to broaden access in lesser-developed countries.
Implementing these changes could benefit individuals in both affluent and impoverished nations. A fairer distribution of vaccines could prevent disease spread and save countless lives.
What more should be done and does the US have a role to play?
In my opinion, the best way to reinforce public health advancements is for nations to sign the contracts and allocate more resources towards global health initiatives. This is particularly vital as engagement with WHO declines alongside reduced funding for other international health programs like USAID.
Without international coordination, it becomes challenging to identify and address issues early enough to prevent them. The pandemic illustrated the need for responsive international collaboration.
It is also crucial for Member States to provide necessary funding to support the goals outlined in the agreement and ensure both innovation and access to new technologies. A solid foundational health infrastructure is essential to ensure that vaccines effectively reach the population.
This edited article has been republished from the Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Please refer to the original article.
Source: www.livescience.com