US Rejects Global Pandemic Preparedness Policy

The United States has rejected amendments adopted in 2024 by members of the World Health Organization (WHO) to its legally-binding health rules aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics following global response to COVID-19.

The Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported the official U.S. rejection of the amendments to the International Health Regulations in a statement on July 18, Reuters reported.

The amendments introduced a new category of “pandemic emergency” for the most significant and globally threatening health crises to better prepare for new pathogens.

“Developed without adequate public input, these amendments expand the role of the WHO in public health emergencies, create additional authorities for the WHO for shaping pandemic declarations, and promote WHO’s ability to facilitate ‘equitable access’ of health commodities,” the U.S. statement wrote.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a history of sowing doubt about vaccine safety, had slammed the WHO in a video address to the Assembly during its vote on a separate pandemic agreement—which said it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic.

That pact, which was adopted in Geneva in May after three years of negotiations, aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics, and vaccines are globally accessible if a pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines, and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access.

U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S.—by far the WHO’s largest financial backer—from the agency in January. Its exit means the U.S. would not be bound by the pact.