MEP Kelleher warns of new campaign, based on falsehoods, to oppose WHO Pandemic Treaty

- Treaty not even drafted yet anti-vax campaigners already totally opposed -

Fianna Fáil MEP, Billy Kelleher has warned that he believes the anti-vax movement has already found its next issue to peddle falsehoods and mistruths about, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Pandemic Treaty.

The Ireland South MEP, and a member of the European Parliament’s Covid 19 Sub-Committee, was commenting after receiving dozens of emails over the past week from people voicing their opposition to the Treaty.

The treaty, which hasn’t actually been drafted yet, would, based on the criteria established by the World Health Assembly, focus on the following issues:

·         early detection and prevention of pandemics;

·         resilience to future pandemics;

·         response to any future pandemics, in particular by ensuring universal and equitable access to medical solutions, such as vaccines, medicines and diagnostics;

·         a stronger international health framework with the WHO as the coordinating authority on global health matters;

·         the "One Health" approach, connecting the health of humans, animals and our planet.

“No rational person could see anything sinister in these aims and objectives, yet here we are again with a campaign already underway to undermine this potential treaty.

“One of the lines that is being used to oppose the treaty is as follows, ‘I or my family will not obey any further health restrictions imposed on us by the people behind this tyranny over the last 2 years, this also goes to any restrictions the passing of this treaty will bring.’

“The Covid 19 pandemic showed us in no uncertain terms how ill prepared we were as a planet to deal with diseases of this nature. No one bloc of countries, let alone no one country, has the capacity or resources needed to deal with and mitigate the effects of a pandemic.

“One of my major concerns will be the use of misinformation on this topic on social media. We saw over the last two years just how dangerous malicious and incorrect rumours could be. The digital platforms must be ready to stop any spreading of falsehoods and mistruths immediately.

“I fully trust the officials in the Department of Health to scrutinise this proposed treaty but people opposing a treaty before it is written demonstrates that there will always be people who assume a conspiracy is afoot,” concluded Kelleher.