USA—UNICEF has announced the issuance of an emergency tender for the procurement of Mpox vaccines, which will help contain the ongoing outbreak.
The mpox outbreak, which has been declared a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), continues to pose a serious threat, particularly in vulnerable regions.
This tender, issued in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), WHO, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and other key partners, seeks to secure vaccines for the hardest-hit countries.
The partnership will also facilitate donations from existing vaccine stockpiles in high-income countries, ensuring that vaccines reach the most affected areas swiftly.
UNICEF is working closely with vaccine manufacturers to establish conditional supply agreements to expedite vaccine distribution.
This arrangement will allow UNICEF to quickly purchase and ship vaccines once countries have secured funding, confirmed demand, and fulfilled regulatory requirements.
The WHO is currently reviewing vaccine information submitted by manufacturers on August 23 and is expected to complete its review for Emergency Use Listing by mid-September.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been the epicentre of the pox crisis, with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths reported this year, with children have been the hardest hit, accounting for four out of every five deaths.
In her remarks, Leila Pakkala, Director of the UNICEF Supply Division, emphasized the importance of addressing the current vaccine shortage and the pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable vaccine access.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, echoed Pakkala’s sentiments, stressing the critical importance of timely vaccine procurement and distribution.
He noted that this emergency tender represents a major step forward in controlling the spread of mpox.
Dr. Kaseya affirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to working with UNICEF, Gavi, WHO, and other stakeholders to ensure that vaccines are allocated swiftly and equitably across the continent.
Adding to this collaborative effort, Dr Derrick Sim, interim Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer at Gavi, highlighted the significance of this announcement.
He noted that with multiple partners working to secure vaccine supplies, the tender will enable UNICEF to deliver vaccines once funding agreements are signed swiftly.
Dr. Sim emphasized the need for a coordinated response and the importance of ensuring countries are prepared to administer vaccines promptly and effectively.
Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s incident manager for the global mpox response, stressed the importance of a swift and equitable global response to the current outbreak.
She warned that failure to act decisively now could allow the virus to spread further and pose an even greater threat globally.
Dr. Van Kerkhove expressed WHO’s commitment to partnering with UNICEF, Gavi, Africa CDC, and other organizations to ensure life-saving vaccines and other critical tools reach those in need.
In addition to vaccines, UNICEF and its partners prioritise infection prevention, risk communication, and community engagement to curb the spread of mpox.
UNICEF has also deployed personal protective equipment, diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, hygiene supplies, and tents to countries most affected by the outbreak. These supplies are crucial for treatment, case isolation, and disease surveillance.
As the world’s largest vaccine buyer, UNICEF plays a pivotal role in global health emergencies, annually procuring more than 2 billion doses of vaccines for routine child immunization and outbreak response across nearly 100 countries.
Through this tender, UNICEF aims to secure immediate access to mpox vaccines and expand production capacity, with agreements for up to 12 million doses expected by 2025, depending on demand and funding.
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