Equity has been sorely lacking in pandemic preparedness and response, and COVID-19 is but the latest example.
The inequity witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of selective border closures, nationalism, inequity in access to diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics and personal protective equipment (PPE), prompted Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to commence negotiations on a new international legal instrument - the - intended to prevent pandemics and mitigate associated inequalities such as vaccine access, and improve compliance with international law during pandemic events.
Four years on since the pandemic broke across the world, Dr Stephanie Switzer and of speak on (and all good podcast providers) to John Edward of the , looking at the prospects for this proposed Pandemic Treaty. The of the WHO is due to finalise these Treaty negotiations, being conducted under the , in May/June 2024.
In this , Stephanie and Mark discuss what this intergovernmental response tells us about preparedness and the search for equity ahead of whatever pandemic may come next. An is also available as an accompaniment to this podcast.
The discussion builds upon undertaken by Mark and Stephanie with, among others, and and funded by the , and the ESRC IAA Impact fund.