[Agreement on pandemics and access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countriesAcuerdo sobre el acceso a las vacunas durante las pandemias para los países de ingresos bajos y medianos].

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed flaws in global public health emergency preparedness and response plans, highlighting the urgency of ensuring equitable access to health technologies and products, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this context, the World Health Organization is negotiating a Pandemic Accord to strengthen global governance, reduce disparities between high-income countries (HICs) and LMICs, and improve prevention and response to future pandemics.Articles 10 and 11 of the most recent version of the proposal (14 December 2024) address diversified and sustainable production of health products, as well as the transfer of technology and know-how, with a focus on LMICs. These provisions promote national capacity-building for the production of inputs, transparency in licensing agreements, and the use of TRIPS Agreement flexibilities on intellectual property. However, gaps remain, such as a lack of clear definitions for pandemics and health products, and an emphasis on voluntary measures.Brazil, a traditional vaccine producer, can potentially benefit from the new international context, strengthening its technological capacity and improving its health security ecosystem. Strategic measures include the adoption of sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, participation in technology and knowledge transfer initiatives, and investment in human resources training. These actions will contribute to equity in access to vaccines, especially for vulnerable populations, in line with the objectives of the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the lessons learned from the response to COVID-19.