Is Luxembourg well prepared for a next pandemic?

The covid pandemic was undoubtedly the most difficult period in the career of Xavier Bettel (DP). “It's difficult when people have questions and there are no answers to give them,” summarizes the current Minister of Cooperation, referring to the dilemma he faced at the time. This is why it is all the more important, according to him, that Luxembourg does everything possible to ensure that this difficult period does not happen again. “This can only be done with more prevention,” the Deputy Prime Minister said on Friday, because the next pandemic could already be lurking on our doorstep.

This is why Luxembourg signed a new strategic partnership with the WHO on Friday for the period 2025-2028, worth 46.5 million euros. In addition, Luxembourg wants to spend 500,000 euros on the fight against Mpox. Two sums which will indirectly benefit the Grand Duchy, as explained by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus.

“Luxembourg will be safe from a pandemic,” said Tedros Ghebreyesus, who was present in Luxembourg for the signing of the partnership. The country has a strong healthcare system and by supporting other countries, Luxembourg will protect itself. “The world is small and interconnected. We are only as strong as our weakest link.” This is why it is important to help other countries, through WHO, to make their health systems more resilient. “The national capabilities of countries can protect us on a global scale,” the WHO head is convinced.

Controversial pandemic deal still has to wait

Tedros Ghebreyesus also continues to hope that the WHO countries will agree next year at the general assembly on the agreement on pandemics, so far controversial. In 2021, countries decided to adopt an agreement by May 2024 in order to be able to respond better and faster to pandemics as an international community in the future.

Since then, several rounds of negotiations have taken place between the 194 countries. The first project was presented in the fall of 2023. Since then, several delicate points have been discussed. During the WHO general assembly last spring, the States failed to reach an agreement.

The next General Assembly will take place in 2025. However, the chances remain low. The United States could play spoilsport. US President Donald Trump, who suspended payments to the WHO during his first term, is not really seen as a supporter of the WHO. No more than his new Minister of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who regularly spreads conspiracy theories about the covid pandemic and vaccines.

Asked by journalists in Luxembourg what the appointment of Donald Trump could mean for the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “The United States is currently in a transition phase. We must give them the space and time to complete this transition.”

Growing skepticism about vaccination spreads

Regardless of whether the deal will be concluded in the near future, Xavier Bettel and Health Minister Martine Deprez (CSV) agree that vaccination is the way to prevent the spread of viruses. “We need to inform people about what a virus is, why vaccines exist and remind people of small everyday actions, like washing their hands,” explains Martine Deprez.

However, since the pandemic, vaccine skepticism has reached a new high. More and more people doubt the safety of vaccines. This did not escape the head of the WHO.

“It’s true that there is a hesitation to get vaccinated. It’s worrying,” confirms the head of the WHO. However, this hesitation should be compared with an increasing vaccination rate around the world. More and more people are getting vaccinated around the world. Between 2000 and 2022, infant mortality increased from eleven million to five million per year.

“Vaccines have played a major role in this development,” underlines Tedros Ghebreyesus. “The facts speak for themselves. Every country should communicate in simple language that people should trust and use vaccines. Otherwise, do you mean it’s better for eleven million children to die?”

In the past, families would have had more children. It often happened that one of them died at a young age. Today, the birth rate would decrease, underlines Tedros Ghebreyesus, because people recognize that thanks to modern medicine, their children have a better chance of staying alive. “Fewer children also means more income for these families.”

This article was originally published on the website of Luxembourg word.
Adaptation: Thomas Berthol