KFF April 1, 2024
Countries are nearing the end of negotiations on a new international ‘pandemic agreement’ (also referred to as a ‘pandemic accord’ or ‘pandemic treaty’). For more than two years, representatives from member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have held a series of meetings to draft this new agreement, with a vote on the final text expected in May 2024 during this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA). The Biden administration has supported the concept of an agreement, and has been engaged in negotiations since the process launched. At the same time, several issues have been raised by U.S. policymakers and others, including whether and how the U.S. should ultimately choose to become a party to the agreement. A delay in...