Washington: The United States announced its decision on Friday to reject the amendments to the international health regulations adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) last year.

According to Namibia Press Agency, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a joint statement to officially decline the WHO's 2024 International Health Regulations Amendments. The statement criticized the amendments for their "vague and broad" terminology and emphasized that U.S. agencies prioritize American citizens in their actions. The officials declared that the U.S. will not accept international policies that they believe infringe on Americans' rights to speech, privacy, or personal liberties.

The amendments, which were adopted in Geneva in June 2024, are designed to ensure that drugs, therapeutics, and vaccines are available worldwide in the event of another pandemic.