By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with member states and partners, has launched an Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) to improve access to mpox vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. This initiative aims to prioritize those at highest risk and ensure the equitable distribution of limited resources.
The mechanism was introduced following a public health emergency declaration on August 14, 2024, by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in response to a rise in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries. So far, 15 African nations have reported mpox outbreaks this year. The WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee has called for equitable access to mpox countermeasures.
“Vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics are essential to controlling the mpox outbreak in Africa,” said Dr. Tedros. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration, urging countries with available supplies to donate to prevent infections and save lives.
The AAM, established as part of the interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM-Net), brings together global partners, including the Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, and others, to ensure the development, allocation, and delivery of medical tools for mpox. So far, over 3.6 million vaccine doses have been pledged, with Japan leading the way with 3 million doses of the LC16 vaccine. The European Commission and several nations have also pledged 620,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine.
This coordinated effort addresses the ongoing challenges posed by the mpox surge, seeking to allocate resources fairly, including vaccines for high-risk groups and diagnostics for countries battling active outbreaks.
