Countries Fail to Agree on Contentious W.H.O. Pandemic Treaty

[Spintendo]

Countries around the globe have failed to reach consensus on the terms of a treaty that would unify the world in a strategy against the inevitable next pandemic. The deliberations, which were scheduled to be a central item at the weeklong meeting of the World Health Assembly beginning Monday in Geneva, aimed to correct the inequities in access to vaccines and treatments between wealthier nations and poorer ones that became glaringly apparent during the Covid pandemic.

Contrary to rhetoric from some politicians in the United States and Britain, it would not enable the W.H.O. to dictate national policies on masking, or use armed troops to enforce lockdowns and vaccine mandates. In the United States, Republican senators have demanded that the Biden administration reject the treaty because it would “potentially weaken U.S. sovereignty.”

Although much of the urgency around Covid has faded since the treaty negotiations began two years ago, public health experts are still acutely aware of the pandemic potential of emerging pathogens. Negotiators had hoped to adopt the treaty next week. But canceled meetings and fractious debates — sometimes over a single word — stalled agreement on key sections, including equitable access to vaccines. W.H.O. plans to begin a new round of negotiations in May 2026.

• NYTimes coverage

[blablarg18]

@Spintendo Great news!

Since WHO is arm of China & got almost everything wrong, in covid.

Hopefully, in 2026 round, countries will have better leaders who will nuke it quicker.

[Spintendo]

@blablarg18 I knew you'd love this story, which is why I posted it.