In a historic move, the World Health Organization has adopted the world’s first pandemic treaty, aiming to prepare the globe for future health emergencies. With every voting nation on board—except the U.S., which abstained due to its planned withdrawal from the WHO—the agreement marks a rare moment of global unity in public health.
The treaty lays out a blueprint for faster access to vaccines, stronger disease surveillance, and better protections for healthcare workers worldwide. It also pushes pharmaceutical companies to offer 20% of pandemic tools at low or no cost. While key elements like funding and enforcement remain unresolved, and full ratification could take over a year, global health leaders see this as a hopeful turning point. The world didn’t walk away this time—and that may be the biggest win of all.