June 13, 2024
As the World Health Assembly concluded the 2024 session in Geneva last week, member states failed to reach an agreement on the Pandemic Accord. Aimed at formalizing global agreements that would improve pandemic preparedness, prevention and response (PPPR), negotiations for the Pandemic Accord faltered around commitments to key equity measures. Member States agreed to extend the negotiations through 2024.
These issues are explained in AVAC’s updated Advocates’ Guide for PPPR in 2024, which covers what you need to know about still unresolved, but critical questions, such as agreements on sharing data and vaccines, and offers timelines in 2024 for strategic advocacy.
Additional Resources
The Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness, of which AVAC is a partner, issued a statement on the vulnerability and potential of the Pandemic Accord.
“Without these commitments, we will fail to gain the necessary lead time to get ahead of rapidly spreading health emergencies and will have no chance of eliminating new viral threats once they emerge.”
Fighting the Same Fight Again (blog)
Advocates must also seize opportunities to demand transparency and the comprehensive inclusion of civil society in the ongoing negotiations, an alarming deficiency in the Pandemic Accord process up to now. Find additional context on the role of civil society in global health initiatives in this blog.
What’s Next for the Pandemic Accord (recording)
And check out the recorded side event from Geneva where civil society came together and offered perspective on community priorities. And mark your calendars for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response’s webinar June 18.
AVAC’s PPPR Work (webpage)
Follow the work of the Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness and AVAC’s PPPR Work by contacting PPPR specialist Samantha Rick at Sam@avac.org.
The Pandemic Accord is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strategize in ‘peace time’ before the next pandemic hits. Civil Society priorities can and must lead this effort.