GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (CMC) — The Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Dr Armstrong Alexis, says the formal adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly (WHA) last month is critical to the 15-member grouping’s ability to provide for the needs of its population in the event of another pandemic.

“For us in the Caribbean, (the Pandemic Agreement) means a lot, especially for anyone who takes a step back into 2021, or even in 2020, when this region struggled to secure vaccines because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alexis, who led the Caricom Secretariat’s delegation to the WHA in Geneva.

The agreement outlines principles, approaches and tools for enhanced international coordination across various areas, aiming to strengthen the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This includes equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

”We recognise that small island developing states (SIDS) are usually somewhere on the back burner when it comes to meeting the needs of the population when such a global phenomenon strikes.

“The Pandemic Agreement is designed to ensure that irrespective of the size of your population, irrespective of the geographic location that you are part of, you are not going to be left behind or your needs would not be prioritised,” Alexis said, adding “So for us as a region, that agreement is critical to our ability to cater for the needs of our population, should there be another pandemic.”

Before the agreement is open for signature, the critical next step includes negotiation of an annex to the accord on the “WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System” or “PABS System” which will outline how countries will share pathogen samples and sequencing data along with the resulting benefits for vaccine and therapeutic development.

The Caricom deputy secretary-general said these are vital aspects of the agreement for safeguarding the region’s health infrastructure during a pandemic.

“This is important. There is still a process to be followed. There (are) steps to go through before we are able to see the benefits of that agreement. But there is also recognition that in order for it to be implementable, all those other aspects need to be put in place, and that is where the emphasis is going to be over the next year,” Alexis said.

The resolution on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Agreement sets out steps to prepare for the accord’s implementation. It includes launching a process to draft and negotiate a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). The result of this process will be considered at next year’s World Health Assembly.

Once the assembly adopts the PABS annex, the WHO Pandemic Agreement will then be open for signature and consideration of ratification, including by national legislative bodies. After 60 ratifications, the agreement will enter into force.