By Ayomide otitoju
UNICEF has announced an emergency tender to procure mpox vaccines, responding to the escalating outbreak that 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). The move aims to secure vaccines for the most affected regions, particularly in Africa, where the outbreak has been most severe.
In collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization, and other partners, UNICEF is working to ensure rapid access to vaccines. The initiative includes facilitating donations from existing stockpiles in high-income countries to help contain the ongoing transmission.
Under the tender, UNICEF will establish conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers. This arrangement will enable the swift purchase and distribution of vaccines once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand, and met regulatory requirements. WHO is currently reviewing submissions from manufacturers and is expected to complete its Emergency Use Listing by mid-September.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at the epicenter of the outbreak, with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths reported this year. Alarmingly, four out of five deaths have occurred in children.
“Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance,” said Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF’s Supply Division. “A universal and transparent allocation mechanism is crucial to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines.”
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the need for a coordinated response: “Africa CDC is committed to ensuring that vaccines are allocated swiftly and equitably across the continent. Our unified response is essential to curbing the impact of this public health emergency.”
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, also highlighted the importance of this step. “Today’s announcement represents an important milestone in securing vaccine supply,” said Dr. Derrick Sim, interim Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer at Gavi. “Delivering doses and ensuring countries are ready to administer them are vital actions that need to be conducted rapidly but thoroughly.”
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO incident manager for the global mpox response, stressed the urgency of the situation: “A swift, coordinated, and equitable response is critical to controlling the current mpox emergency and preventing future ones. WHO is glad to partner with UNICEF, Gavi, Africa CDC, and other stakeholders to deliver life-saving tools to those in need.”
The tender aims to secure immediate access to available vaccines and expand production capacity. Depending on demand and funding, agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 could be established.
In addition to vaccines, Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO are prioritizing infection prevention, risk communication, and community engagement. UNICEF is also deploying essential supplies, including personal protection equipment, diagnostic tests, and medical treatment kits, to support the frontline response.
UNICEF, as the world’s largest single vaccine buyer, plays a critical role in global health, procuring over 2 billion vaccine doses annually for routine child immunization and outbreak responses in nearly 100 countries.
