EU urged to stop blocking developing countries from accessing vaccines

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other stakeholders in the health sector have urged the European Union (EU) to stop blocking countries in the global south from accessing vaccines. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the partners called for equity, justice and fairness in accessing the vaccine. Specifically, AHF Country Director, Echey Ijezie, said the WHO Pandemic […]

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other stakeholders in the health sector have urged the European Union (EU) to stop blocking countries in the global south from accessing vaccines.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the partners called for equity, justice and fairness in accessing the vaccine.

Specifically, AHF Country Director, Echey Ijezie, said the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, cannot be ratified until the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex is finalised.

“The Annex establishes rules for sharing pathogen samples and genetic data used to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments, and how the resulting benefits from the use of this system are shared. Negotiations are at a critical juncture. Major EU powers are resisting binding equity provisions.

“Time is running out because the PABS Annex is expected to have its final round of negotiations at the end of March 2026, and failure to reach an agreement could force a weakened compromise or delay the Pandemic Agreement’s ratification. What is decided now will shape whether the next global health emergency is handled more fairly than COVID-19.”

Speaking further, he said the countries in the global south will not support the agreement if there is no equity.

“The Pandemic Agreement cannot be ratified without the PABS Annex, and this Annex should not be approved without binding equity provisions.

“Also, those who profit from the system must contribute to the system. Participating manufacturers and all commercial users must be subject to mandatory benefit-sharing with real accountability and legal certainty through binding contracts,” he said.

Also speaking, General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Workers (NUAHW), Martin Egbanubi, said the coronavirus pandemic is a huge lesson and that countries must be well prepared for any pandemic.

“If another pandemic happens and we are not prepared, the situation could be worse than what we experienced.”

He also stressed the need for local vaccine production.

“In Nigeria, we used to manufacture vaccines in those days. We had a medical research institute in Lagos where vaccines were produced. We must begin to look at how we can restart vaccine production in this country.”

Egbanubi called on developed countries to support the Global South through fair partnerships and knowledge sharing.