UN General Assembly adopts pandemic preparedness declaration; WHO urges PABS talks finish
Member States passed a non-binding political declaration on pandemic prevention by 153–3 with two abstentions. WHO’s Tedros called for completing the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex so the Pandemic Agreement can enter into force.
On 12 October 2026 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR), UN News and the World Health Organization reported. The vote was 153 in favour, three against (Argentina, Israel and the United States) and two abstentions (New Zealand and Paraguay). Consensus adoption planned for a 25 September high-level meeting had stalled after objections, including from the United States.
What the declaration is
The text is political and non-binding. It calls for stronger national, regional and international cooperation guided by science, equity and human rights, and welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted earlier. Priorities listed by WHO include better monitoring, national capacities, amended International Health Regulations (2005), community empowerment, equitable pathogen access and benefit-sharing, local manufacturing and sustainable financing.
WHO’s message
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the commitment and urged countries to finalize negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex so the Pandemic Agreement can be opened for signature, ratified and enter into force. Talks on PABS — how countries share pathogen samples and genetic data in return for a share of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics — have been difficult; the World Health Assembly is due to revisit the annex in May 2027 or earlier in a special session.
Separately
WHO also launched a five-year strategy for its Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence aiming to help countries detect emerging threats within 24 hours.
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