UK refuses to sign global vaccine treaty

Under a draft pandemic treaty being negotiated at the WHO, richer countries would have to share more of the burden in helping the world deal with the pandemic, including setting aside 20% of tests, treatments and vaccines for WHO to distribute in poorer countries in an emergency.

Illustration photo: Reuters

“We will only support ratification and accept it on behalf of the UK where it is in the UK’s national interest and respects national sovereignty,” a spokesperson for the UK Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement to Reuters.

The spokesman did not comment on the details of specific proposals from the deal, adding that “no proposals have been agreed”.

The new treaty and a series of updates to the WHO's existing pandemic rules aim to bolster the world's defenses against new pathogens after the COVID-19 pandemic killed millions of people.

One of the main points of disagreement between rich and developing countries is the contentious issue of equitable sharing of drugs and vaccines.

Countries will finalize negotiations on the treaty on May 10, aiming to adopt it at the WHO's annual meeting later this month.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that countries needed to agree to the accord within the deadline to help fight future pandemics, adding that countries that did not fully agree to the text should at least not block consensus among the WHO's 194 member states.

Cao Phong (according to Telegraph, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vuong-quoc-anh-se-tu-choi-ky-hiep-uoc-vac-xin-toan-cau-post294789.html