UN General Assembly adopts a pandemic declaration by 153 votes to three after consensus was blocked
12 October 2026
On Monday 12 October 2026 the General Assembly adopted a political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The vote was 153 in favour, three against and two abstentions, including New Zealand and Paraguay.
It had been due to be approved by consensus at a high-level meeting on 25 September, but objections from the United States and a few other States blocked that.
The declaration is political and non-binding, and welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted last year.
That agreement cannot open for signature until States finish the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex.
The World Health Assembly is due to return to the annex next May.
In plain words
PABS Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing — The system for sharing pathogen samples and genetic data in return for a share of vaccines and treatments.
Political declaration Non-binding UN statement of commitment — It sets out shared aims but creates no legal obligation.