Contrary to what some commentators would have us believe, the Pandemic Treaty has NOT been defeated.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was mandated on 1st December 2021 to begin drafting and negotiating an agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
On 1st June, 2024, at the 77th World Health Assembly, that mandate was extended for up to a year. The INB is to complete its work as soon as possible, and to submit its final outcome for consideration at the 78th WHA in 2025 or earlier by a special session of the WHA in 2024 as you can see here.
The 10th meeting of the INB will be held in hybrid format (i.e. in person and virtually) on 16th and 17th July 2024.
There is little doubt that the goal of the INB is to finalise the Pandemic Agreement prior to the end of 2024.
The latest draft of the Pandemic Agreement can be read here.
This document, published by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, gives an indication of the political desire to finalise the agreement.
Now is not the time to sit back and relax, rather we must continue to raise awareness of the existence of the Pandemic Agreement and let our MPs know that it is an agreement that the people do not want.
Timetable of events (which have been taken from this document).
16 -17 July 2024: Tenth Meeting of the INB (INB10).
9 – 20 September 2024: Eleventh Meeting of the INB (INB11).
4 – 15 November 2024: Twelfth Meeting of the INB (INB12).
15 November 2024: Deadline for calling a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA).
Last week of November 2024: If there is an agreement to call for the convening of a special session of the WHA, a 1 day special session of the Executive Board could be convened during the course of this week.
Week of 16 December: Depending on decisions made above possible 1 day special session of the World Health Assembly.
