“One thing is for certain in light of the pandemic-plagued days in which we live: there is no shortage of political and morally divisive policies on the horizon. On March 30th, over 25 heads of state called for an international pandemic treaty to greater combat and alleviate the risk of future life-altering pandemics from arising. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that “the world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one,” and during a news conference he campaigned on its urgency due to the WHO’s lack of ability for surveillance and oversight within member nations. Origins of the treaty stem from member nations, such as China over the past year, being able to deny WHO access to novel epidemic data or disease materials that could prove crucial in combating a novel pathogen.”

GlobalNicholas LongApril 13, 2021WHO, COVID-19Comment

The Pandemic Will Never End Without Global Vaccine Cooperation

“It is easy for those of us who live in wealthy nations with high vaccination rates to think of those in poorer or war-torn countries as pitiable but distant. Something to be concerned about, though lacking any real impact on the success of our own COVID eradication efforts. This, however, is a grave misjudgment. Not only is vaccine nationalism and the zero-sum prioritization of one’s own population a moral failing, it is scientifically counterproductive.”

GlobalEmma CohnMarch 17, 2021COVID-19, Vaccination, WHOComment

WHO research team arrives in China to study origins of COVID-19

“A global team of researchers from the World Health Organization arrived in China last Thursday to conduct a study of COVID-19’s origins. These investigations within China will play a key role in understanding the pandemic and what measures are needed to prevent future outbreaks. The real test of China’s compliance with international standards will be if this initial investigation by the WHO proceeds without further disruption from the Chinese government.”

GlobalAaron SugarmanJanuary 19, 2021China, COVID-19, WHO, World Health OrganizationComment

Why U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization is critical now more than ever

“Last month, senior U.S. health official Garrett Grisby claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) was not sharing enough information on an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Despite the WHO’s shortcomings, it would be a major policy blunder for the United States to limit their involvement in the organization. Permanently cutting all funding to the WHO as Trump vowed in May and permanently withdrawing from the organization would be ceding influence to China, which would dramatically increase their power on the world stage.”

GlobalAaron SugarmanDecember 9, 2020WHO, United NationsComment