In a collaborative effort to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), alongside the Gavi vaccine alliance, Africa CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO), has issued an emergency tender for the procurement of mpox vaccines, Reuters reports.
The joint statement aims to secure crucial doses for countries most affected by the disease.
The tender allows for agreements with vaccine manufacturers to supply up to 12 million doses of mpox vaccine through 2025, subject to the manufacturers’ production capacity. UNICEF will spearhead conditional supply agreements, enabling swift vaccine purchase and delivery once financing, demand, readiness, and regulatory requirements are met.
The collaboration extends beyond the aforementioned organizations, including the Vaccine Alliance, the Pan American Health Organization, Gavi, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the WHO. This multi-faceted approach facilitates the donation of existing vaccine stockpiles from high-income countries.
“The urgency of the situation demands immediate action,” stated the joint statement. “We are working closely with manufacturers and partners to ensure equitable access to vaccines for those most at risk.”
The WHO is currently reviewing information from manufacturers, submitted on August 23rd, regarding the emergency use listing for two mpox vaccines: Bavarian Nordic’s and Japan’s KM Biologics. The agency expects to complete the review by mid-September.
The declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency by the WHO in August followed the alarming outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which quickly spread to neighboring countries.
To date, over 18,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported in Congo, resulting in 629 deaths. Over 150 cases have been confirmed in Burundi. Notably, Sweden and Thailand have confirmed cases of the clade Ib type of the virus, outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries.
