Written by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the message emphasized a shared global responsibility to protect humanity from repeating such devastation seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed up to 20 million lives and wiped out $13 trillion in global economic output.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals were overwhelmed, families lost loved ones in isolation, and frontline health workers endured an unprecedented strain. This collective trauma spawned a pledge among nations: never again to face a pandemic unprepared, they wrote.
‘An act of hope’ in a divided world
Over a year ago, countries made significant progress by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement, committing to work together more effectively to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics.
“In a divided world, that result was not to be taken for granted,” the letter said. “It was an act of hope and an act of faith in each other. We are writing to you now because that hope has not yet been fulfilled and because it is in your hands to help fulfill it.”
In the way is the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, an important element of the agreement that remains incomplete, President Lula and Tedros wrote.
This framework is essential to enable countries to quickly identify and share genetic information about dangerous pathogens so scientists can develop life-saving tests, treatments and vaccines.
Without the annex, the pandemic agreement cannot formally enter into force, leaving the promise unfulfilled, the joint message states.
Complex challenges remain
The challenges of finalizing the PABS Annex are complex, particularly in terms of defining how the benefits of shared pathogens are equitably distributed and how governance ensures equity.
These were precisely the issues that had previously been left unresolved, contributing to gaps in protection during COVID-19.
The negotiators are scheduled to meet again from July 6 to 17 to close these gaps.
Three critical requests
The appeal highlights three critical requests for global leaders:
- Political will at the highest level: Leaders must prioritize finalizing the annex and allow negotiators to seek bold consensus. The agreement does not compromise national sovereignty, nor does it empower the WHO to impose measures such as lockdowns or vaccination mandates. These decisions rest with the individual nations.
- Spirit of equity: The PABS system is built on fairness. Those who share pathogens rapidly must trust that resulting vaccines and treatments will also reach their populations, an approach that recognizes that pandemic prevention is not charity but a sound strategy, reducing costs and lives lost by containing outbreaks early. Fair access must be ensured, ensuring clear, stable rules that replace the current crisis-driven process on a case-by-case basis.
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A sense of urgency: Scientists estimate a nearly 25 percent chance of another pandemic within the next decade. Changing environmental and social factors are creating new hotspots for disease emergence worldwide, while biotechnological advances are increasing the risk of accidental or deliberate releases. The letter calls for July 17 to be treated as a firm deadline for agreement, signaling global commitment and avoiding dangerous delays.
An elderly woman receives her third COVID-19 booster shot at a vaccination center in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2024. (File)
The next decisive chapter
Current outbreaks, such as Ebola in several countries without an approved vaccine, highlight the ongoing risks, they warned.
Reminding readers of the staggering human and economic toll of COVID-19, the letter stated that, by comparison, investment in early outbreak detection and response systems like the PABS framework is modest and essential.
Historically, the world has united to save countless lives by defeating smallpox, pushing polio to near-eradication, and fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Ending this agreement is not a departure from this legacy,” the letter said. “It’s the natural next chapter, and it’s within reach.”
Watch our video explanation of the pandemic agreement:
