Delegates Agree to Tighten Pandemic Regulations, Get Reality Check from Civil Society

26/01/2022 Kerry Cullinan

While three independent review panels concur that the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to COVID-19 was inadequate, member states made slow progress in charting better alternatives at the executive board meeting on Wednesday. WHO members are considering three main proposals to improve the global body’s future pandemic preparedness: Setting up a Standing Committee […] Continue reading ->

WHO Board Supports Tedros Nomination, as United States Sets Conditions for Increased Financing

25/01/2022 Kerry Cullinan & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Despite earlier disruption from Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus received overwhelming support for his nomination for a second term as World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General from the body’s executive board on Tuesday. As the only nominee, Tedros is guaranteed to be re-elected at the next World Health Assembly in May. All WHO regions expressed their […] Continue reading ->

Ethiopia’s Dispute with Tedros May Spill into Vote for New Director-General

25/01/2022 Kerry Cullinan

Ethiopia may try to disrupt Tuesday morning’s closed session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board meeting where the nomination of the next Director-General will happen via secret ballot. Incumbent Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the only nominee, but Ethiopia – which nominated him four years ago – has taken exception to their former […] Continue reading ->

Africa Calls for ‘Radical Disruption’ of WHO Funding, as EU Wants More Efficiency

24/01/2022 Kerry Cullinan

Unless a future pandemic ‘instrument’ is properly financed and legally binding, it will not be able to prevent health emergencies, numerous member states told the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 150th executive board meeting on Monday. Speaking on behalf of Africa’s 47 member states, Kenya’s Dr Cleopa Mailu said there should be a “radical disruption” of […] Continue reading ->

COVAX Update: Enough Vaccines but Big Disparities in Uptake – Exacerbating Risks of New Variants

24/01/2022 Paul Adepoju

With the delivery of its one billionth dose last week, COVAX, the WHO co-sponsored vaccine facility, has established itself as the main pillar of vaccine supplies to the world’s 92 poorest economies – providing 82% of the vaccines those nations have received so far. But even as vaccine supplies now ease up, huge disparities persist […] Continue reading ->

We Will be Living with COVID for Foreseeable Future; but We Can End Acute Phase of Pandemic this Year — WHO Director General

24/01/2022 Paul Adepoju

Even though the end is not yet in sight for the COVID pandemic, the world can end it as a global health emergency in 2022, says WHO DG at the opening of the 150th sesssion of the World Health Organization Executive Board. While the world will be living with COVID for the foreseeable future, countries […] Continue reading ->

Will Omicron Offer a COVID-19 Reprieve? Experts are Divided

24/01/2022 Maayan Hoffman

Experts are divided on whether or not Omicron could offer a COVID-19 reprieve. As the Omicron wave hits its peak in parts of the world, leaving more people infected than in any previous outbreak, some scientists believe that respite is on the way, while others argue another variant could emerge that will be even more […] Continue reading ->

As WHO Executive Board Meets – Handful of Countries Stall Plans to Reform WHO Finance

23/01/2022 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

As the World Health Organization’s executive board meets this week, two major issues – reforming its finances and pandemic response – continue to defy easy consensus. A handful of powerful countries, including but not limited to the United States, remain hesitant over a plan to bolster the World Health Organization’s (WHO) finances by increasing member […] Continue reading ->

Backed by Science: Here’s How We Can Eliminate COVID-19

23/01/2022 Guy Marks, Brendan Crabb & Raina MacIntyre

As the WHO Executive Board resumes talks this week on a much-discussed Pandemic Accord, and other preparedness measures, three noted infectious disease experts chart a course for “eliminating” SARS-COV2 – warning that will take more sustained global coordination and determination than what has been seen so far. At the outbreak of World War 1 in […] Continue reading ->

Mixed Reaction in Africa to WHO’s New Position on Booster Shots

22/01/2022 Paul Adepoju

IDABAN, Nigeria – The decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to drop its opposition for COVID-19 vaccination booster shots has raised concerns in Africa about the potential depletion of COVID-19 vaccine doses available to African countries. On Friday, Health Policy Watch reported WHO recommended the wider administration of a third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech […] Continue reading ->