Pandemic agreement adopted in committee at the World Health Assembly

The resolution on the agreement was adopted by 124 votes in favour and none against in Committee A. There were eleven abstentions.

The historic agreement on pandemic prevention and control was adopted Monday in committee at the World Health Assembly, ahead of a vote before the Assembly on Tuesday, the committee chair said.

"Draft resolution A 78\10 addendum 1 is therefore adopted by 124 votes to none, with 11 abstentions," said the Committee Chair, Namibian Health Minister Esperance Luvindao, following a show of hands requested by Slovakia. The committee's adoption suggests that the vote before the World Health Assembly on Tuesday will be a mere formality.

Countries that abstained Monday evening included Iran, Israel, Russia, Italy, Slovakia, and Poland. The World Health Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), responsible for setting policy.