Draft WHO pandemic deal pushes for equity to avoid COVID 'failure' repeat

(VOVWORLD) - Governments may have to reserve drugs and vaccines for the World Health Organization to distribute in poorer countries to avoid a repeat of the "catastrophic failure" during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an early draft of a global pandemic agreement.

Draft WHO pandemic deal pushes for equity to avoid COVID 'failure' repeat - ảnh 1Dr. Mayank Amin draws the Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub variants at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 8, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS)

One of the most concrete proposals in the draft accord includes a measure to reserve 20% of any tests, vaccines or treatments developed for use in poorer countries.

The draft also looks set to continue a long-running argument by calling for intellectual property rights to be waived during pandemics, which advocates say would allow for wider access to life-saving drugs and vaccines more quickly.

Talks on the draft treaty will begin on Feb. 27 and are set to continue to 2024. Member states have agreed that the treaty will be legally binding for those who sign up, but it is not yet clear how that will be enforced.

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