UN adopts pandemic declaration as US, Israel and Argentina vote against

On October 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a political declaration aimed at bolstering global cooperation to prevent and respond to future pandemics. The declaration garnered 153 votes in favor, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it. New Zealand and Paraguay abstained from voting. Rwanda, which co-facilitated the negotiations alongside Armenia, welcomed the adoption, describing it as a crucial step towards building a more resilient global health system.

The declaration emphasizes the need for stronger disease surveillance, improved emergency preparedness, expanded access to vaccines and treatments, and sustainable financing to help countries respond to health emergencies. It also calls for coordinated action based on scientific evidence, equity, respect for human rights, and international solidarity.

The adoption comes after disagreements during a high-level meeting in September, delaying the vote to the General Assembly. The declaration recognizes that the world remains insufficiently prepared for future pandemics despite lessons learned from COVID-19 and other health crises. It urges countries to work together, guided by scientific evidence and respect for human rights, to address infectious diseases that cross borders.

A key issue is the negotiation of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which has remained contentious. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the declaration, urging governments to act on their commitments, particularly by finalizing negotiations on the benefit-sharing framework.

The declaration also highlights inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for increased investment in local and regional research, manufacturing, and regulatory capacity, especially in developing countries. Financing is another challenge, with an estimated $15 billion annual gap in pandemic preparedness funding. The declaration is not legally binding, but its implementation will depend on individual governments' actions and continued international cooperation.