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IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Donald Trump pulls US from World Health pandemic reforms
The Trump administration said Friday that the U.S. is rejecting last year's changes to the World Health Organization's pandemic response, claiming they violate U.S. sovereignty. President Donald Trump's administration said Friday the United States was rejecting changes agreed last year for the World Health Organization on its pandemic response, saying they violated the country's sovereignty. Trump on returning to office on January 20 immediately began his nation's withdrawal from the UN body, but the State Department said the language from last year would still have been binding on the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is a longtime critic of vaccines, said the changes "risk unwarranted interference with our national sovereign right to make health policy." "We will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans' speech, privacy or personal liberties," they said in a joint statement. Rubio and Kennedy disassociated the United States from a series of amendments to the International Health Regulations, which provide a legal framework for combatting diseases, agreed last year at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. "We regret the US decision to reject the amendments," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted on X. He stressed the amendments "are clear about member states sovereignty," adding that the WHO cannot mandate lockdowns or similar measures. The changes included a stated "commitment to solidarity and equity" in which a new group would study the needs of developing countries in future emergencies. Countries have until Saturday to lodge reservations about the amendments. Conservative activists and vaccine skeptics in Britain and Australia, which both have left-leaning governments, have waged public campaigns against the changes. The amendments came about when the Assembly failed at a more ambitious goal of sealing a new global agreement on pandemics. Most of the world finally secured a treaty this May, but the United States did not participate as it was in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. The United States, then under president Joe Biden, took part in the May-June 2024 negotiations, but said it could not support consensus as it demanded protections for US intellectual property rights on vaccine development. Rubio's predecessor Antony Blinken had welcomed the amendments as progress. In their rejection of the amendments, Rubio and Kennedy said the changes "fail to adequately address the WHO's susceptibility to the political influence and censorship -- most notably from China -- during outbreaks." WHO's Ghebreyesus said the body is "impartial and works with all countries to improve people's health."
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
US rejects WHO pandemic changes to global health rules
The World Health Organization logo is seen near WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on February 2, 2023. REUTERS/ Denis Balibouse/ File photo WASHINGTON — The United States has rejected amendments adopted in 2024 by members of the World Health Organization (WHO) to its legally binding health rules aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19. The Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement they had transmitted on Friday the official US rejection of the amendments to the International Health Regulations, which were adopted by consensus last year. The amendments introduced a new category of "pandemic emergency" for the most significant and globally threatening health crises in an effort to shore up the world's defenses against new pathogens. "Developed without adequate public input, these amendments expand the role of the WHO in public health emergencies, create additional authorities for the WHO for shaping pandemic declarations, and promote WHO's ability to facilitate 'equitable access' of health commodities," the US statement said. "Terminology throughout the 2024 amendments is vague and broad, risking WHO-coordinated international responses that focus on political issues like solidarity, rather than rapid and effective actions," said the statement, jointly issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt about vaccine safety, had slammed the WHO in a video address to the Assembly during its vote on a separate pandemic agreement, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic. That pact, which was adopted in Geneva in May after three years of negotiations, aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access. US negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the US—by far the WHO's largest financial backer—from the agency when he took office in January. Its exit means the US would not be bound by the pact. Kennedy and Rubio said on Friday that their rejection protects US sovereignty. The IHR amendments and the parallel pandemic pact leave health policy to national governments and contain nothing that overrides national sovereignty, however. — Reuters
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Donald Trump administration pulls U.S. from World Health pandemic reforms
President Donald Trump's administration said on Friday (July 18, 2025) the United States was rejecting changes agreed last year for the World Health Organization on its pandemic response, saying they violated the country's sovereignty. Mr. Trump on returning to office on January 20 immediately began his nation's withdrawal from the U.N. body, but the State Department said the language from last year would still have been binding on the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is a longtime critic of vaccines, said the changes 'risk unwarranted interference with our national sovereign right to make health policy.' 'We will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans' speech, privacy or personal liberties,' they said in a joint statement. Mr. Rubio and Mr. Kennedy disassociated the United States from a series of amendments to the International Health Regulations, which provide a legal framework for combatting diseases, agreed last year at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. 'We regret the US decision to reject the amendments,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted on X. He stressed the amendments 'are clear about member states sovereignty,' adding that the WHO cannot mandate lockdowns or similar measures. The changes included a stated 'commitment to solidarity and equity' in which a new group would study the needs of developing countries in future emergencies. Countries have until Saturday (July 19, 2025) to lodge reservations about the amendments. Conservative activists and vaccine skeptics in Britain and Australia, which both have left-leaning governments, have waged public campaigns against the changes. The amendments came about when the Assembly failed at a more ambitious goal of sealing a new global agreement on pandemics. Most of the world finally secured a treaty this May, but the United States did not participate as it was in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. The United States, then under Ppresident Joe Biden, took part in the May-June 2024 negotiations, but said it could not support consensus as it demanded protections for US intellectual property rights on vaccine development. Mr. Rubio's predecessor Antony Blinken had welcomed the amendments as progress. In their rejection of the amendments, Rubio and Kennedy said the changes 'fail to adequately address the WHO's susceptibility to the political influence and censorship — most notably from China — during outbreaks.' WHO's Ghebreyesus said the body is 'impartial and works with all countries to improve people's health.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
US rejects WHO pandemic changes to global health rules
Washington: The United States has rejected amendments adopted in 2024 by members of the World Health Organization to its legally binding health rules aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19. The Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement they had transmitted on Friday the official U.S. rejection of the amendments to the International Health Regulations , which were adopted by consensus last year. The amendments introduced a new category of " pandemic emergency " for the most significant and globally threatening health crises in an effort to shore up the world's defenses against new pathogens. "Developed without adequate public input, these amendments expand the role of the WHO in public health emergencies, create additional authorities for the WHO for shaping pandemic declarations, and promote WHO's ability to facilitate 'equitable access' of health commodities," the U.S. statement said. "Terminology throughout the 2024 amendments is vague and broad, risking WHO-coordinated international responses that focus on political issues like solidarity, rather than rapid and effective actions," said the statement, jointly issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt about vaccine safety, had slammed the WHO in a video address to the Assembly during its vote on a separate pandemic agreement, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic. That pact, which was adopted in Geneva in May after three years of negotiations, aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access. U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Its exit means the U.S. would not be bound by the pact. Kennedy and Rubio said on Friday that their rejection protects U.S. sovereignty. The IHR amendments and the parallel pandemic pact leave health policy to national governments and contain nothing that overrides national sovereignty, however.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Trump pulls US from World Health pandemic reforms
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mr Trump on returning to office on Jan 20 immediately began his nation's withdrawal from the UN body. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's administration said on July 18 that the United States was rejecting changes agreed last year for the World Health Organisation on its pandemic response, saying they violated the country's sovereignty. Mr Trump on returning to office on Jan 20 immediately began his nation's withdrawal from the UN body, but the State Department said the language from last year would still have been binding on the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Junior, who is a longtime critic of vaccines, said the changes 'risk unwarranted interference with our national sovereign right to make health policy.' 'We will put Americans first in all our actions and we will not tolerate international policies that infringe on Americans' speech, privacy or personal liberties,' they said in a joint statement. Mr Rubio and Mr Kennedy disassociated the United States from a series of amendments to the International Health Regulations, which provide a legal framework for combatting diseases, agreed last year at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. 'We regret the US decision to reject the amendments,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement posted on X. He stressed the amendments 'are clear about member states sovereignty,' adding that the WHO cannot mandate lockdowns or similar measures. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died World Trump administration moves to release Epstein case transcripts amid public scrutiny Singapore 'May you find rainbows in your skies': Outpouring of support for Jetstar Asia staff as closure looms Singapore New auto pet wash service in Buona Vista draws flak, but firm stands by its safety Singapore 314 suicides reported in Singapore in 2024, remains leading cause of youth deaths Asia 'Guardian angels': Taiwan's dementia-friendly village promotes ageing in place Life US tech firm launches probe into Coldplay 'kiss cam' couple after clip goes viral The changes included a stated 'commitment to solidarity and equity' in which a new group would study the needs of developing countries in future emergencies. Countries have until July 19 to lodge reservations about the amendments. Conservative activists and vaccine skeptics in Britain and Australia, which both have left-leaning governments, have waged public campaigns against the changes. The amendments came about when the Assembly failed at a more ambitious goal of sealing a new global agreement on pandemics. Most of the world finally secured a treaty this May, but the United States did not participate as it was in the process of withdrawing from the WHO. The United States, then under president Joe Biden, took part in the May-June 2024 negotiations, but said it could not support consensus as it demanded protections for US intellectual property rights on vaccine development. Mr Rubio's predecessor Antony Blinken had welcomed the amendments as progress. In their rejection of the amendments, Mr Rubio and Mr Kennedy said the changes 'fail to adequately address the WHO's susceptibility to the political influence and censorship – most notably from China – during outbreaks.' WHO's Mr Ghebreyesus said the body is 'impartial and works with all countries to improve people's health.' AFP More on this topic US rejects WHO pandemic reforms, citing national sovereignty
