WHO adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement

The Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have reached a consensus on and adopted the inaugural Pandemic Agreement. This adoption is the result of three years of focused discussions, initiated in response to identified shortcomings and disparities in both national and international reactions to COVID-19. The Pandemic Agreement aims to strengthen global cooperation, ensuring a coordinated and equitable response to future pandemics. Following approval by vote within the Committee by Member State delegations (124 in favor, 0 opposed, 11 abstaining), the Pandemic Agreement was formally adopted via a plenary session vote. This document establishes principles, methodologies, and instruments to enhance international coordination across various domains, including equitable and timely access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tools. Subsequent actions under the Pandemic Agreement encompass the start of specific negotiations to formulate a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Scheme (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). The results of this undertaking will be reviewed at the subsequent World Health Assembly.