Article Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) passed a pandemic resolution with 124 votes to nil and 11 abstentions, including America and Iran. The resolution, called the Pandemic Agreement, aims to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The Australian Government welcomes the Agreement, which supports collective action to address pandemic threats and strengthen multi-sectoral disease surveillance. Australia served as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the Pandemic Agreement and will retain full sovereignty in making public health decisions. There are further steps remaining to finalize technical details, and the Agreement is expected to open for signature in mid-2026.
What This Means for You
- Collective action to address pandemic threats: The Pandemic Agreement supports collective action to address pandemic threats, including by strengthening multi-sectoral disease surveillance and access to vaccines. This means that countries will work together to prevent and respond to pandemics, potentially leading to faster response times and better access to vaccines during a pandemic.
- Australia will retain full sovereignty in making public health decisions: Although the Agreement supports collective action, Australia will retain full sovereignty in making public health decisions. This means that Australia will be able to make its own decisions regarding public health measures during a pandemic, taking into account the interests of Australians.
- Further steps remaining to finalize technical details: There are further steps remaining to finalize technical details before the Agreement opens for signature in mid-2026. This means that the Agreement is not yet final, and changes may still be made to its technical details.
- Future outlook: Once the Agreement enters into force, Australia and our region will be better positioned to reduce pandemic risks and respond swiftly if a pandemic occurs, saving lives and mitigating the impacts on our economies.
Original Post
WHO passes pandemic resolution 124 to nil with 11 countries abstaining including America and Iran. Senator Malcolm Roberts advised the Treaty had been watered down from its original, draconian draft. What the new Treaty contains has not yet been ascertained.
The Australian Government welcomes the adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement.
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