The Pandemic Agreement - What it is, and what it is not

After more than three years of negotiations, World Health Organization Member States reached a first-of-its-kind deal on April 16, 2025 for a Pandemic Agreement designed to strengthen international collaboration in preventing, preparing for and responding to future infectious disease pandemics.

In the latest in our series explaining major developments in pandemic preparedness, we address some of the key questions about this historic Agreement.

What is the Pandemic Agreement? And is it now a ‘done deal’?

The Pandemic Agreement is a legally-binding deal in which countries agree to a shared international response to shared pandemic threats. It focuses on equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, as well as on researching and implementing measures to improve pandemic prevention, surveillance and response.

The finalised draft has not yet been signed and ratified, but will be submitted for adoption by WHO Member States at the World Health Assembly—the United Nations’ highest annual forum for global health—starting on May 19, 2025. If it is adopted, it will be subject to signature and ratification by individual nations.

Why do we need a Pandemic Agreement?

The need for a global agreement on how to prepare for and respond to pandemic threats was exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which critical vulnerabilities in global health systems and a lack of international cooperation led to devastating inequalities in access to vaccines, tests and treatments. 

Some experts argue that this inequity not only cost millions of lives, many of them in lower-income countries, but also prolonged the pandemic by allowing new COVID-19 variants to evolve and spark fresh waves of infection.

Does the Pandemic Agreement give the WHO power over national governments? 

No. The Agreement specifically affirms national sovereignty in public health matters and does not give the WHO the authority to direct, order or prescribe policies or laws when it comes to tackling future pandemics. The WHO could not impose lockdowns or travel bans or mandate vaccination or testing campaigns, for example.

Will the Pandemic Agreement improve disease outbreak early-warning systems?

Yes. The Pandemic Agreement aims to strengthen pandemic prevention and surveillance capacities, improve routine immunisation and take a so-called “One Health” approach to watch for potential drivers of pandemics at the human-animal-environment interface. 

It also includes the establishment of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System aimed at ensuring countries rapidly share data and details about pathogens causing outbreaks or epidemics with all other Member States, as well as with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies so that they can begin developing tests, vaccines and treatments as soon as possible.

So, is the world now better prepared for the next pandemic threat?

In some critical ways, yes, the world will be in a better state of readiness to be able to deal with the next pandemic threat once the Pandemic Agreement is adopted. 

As well as faster sharing of pathogen data in emerging crises, the Pandemic Agreement also emphasises the importance of resilient health systems and a skilled global health workforce and establishes global mechanisms to streamline the distribution of critical medical supplies and support access based on public health needs rather than ability to pay during international health emergencies. Of course, countries don’t have to wait for the Pandemic Agreement’s formal adoption to take action. They can—and should—start now.

The Pandemic Agreement is a significant step forwards, but achieving true pandemic preparedness will require international commitment to sustained investment and collaboration in scientific research and development.