UNICEF Issues Emergency Tender for Mpox Vaccines Amidst Worsening Outbreak in Africa

UNICEF's Director of Supply Division, Leila Pakkala, emphasized the urgency of addressing the current vaccine shortage and ensuring equitable access to vaccines.

UNICEF has announced the issuance of an emergency tender to procure mpox vaccines in response to the ongoing outbreak, which has been declared a public health emergency by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This urgent action is aimed at securing vaccines for the hardest-hit countries, in collaboration with key global health partners including Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and the Pan American Health Organization.

The emergency tender will enable UNICEF to set up conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers, ensuring the swift purchase and distribution of vaccines once financing, demand, and regulatory requirements are in place. WHO is currently reviewing manufacturer submissions, with a decision on Emergency Use Listing expected by mid-September.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been identified as the epicenter of the crisis, reporting over 18,000 suspected cases of mpox this year, including 629 deaths. Alarmingly, four out of five fatalities have occurred in children.

UNICEF's Director of Supply Division, Leila Pakkala, emphasized the urgency of addressing the current vaccine shortage and ensuring equitable access to vaccines. Similarly, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, highlighted the importance of a coordinated and swift response to protect the most vulnerable populations.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is working alongside UNICEF and other partners to secure funding and ensure that countries are prepared to administer the vaccines once they become available. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO incident manager for the global mpox response, reiterated the necessity of a collective effort to prevent mpox from becoming a greater global threat.

The emergency tender aims to secure immediate access to available vaccines and expand production capacity, with the potential to secure up to 12 million doses by 2025, depending on demand and funding. Beyond vaccines, Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and partners are also focusing on infection prevention, control measures, and community engagement. UNICEF is additionally deploying personal protection equipment, diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, and hygiene supplies to countries at the forefront of the crisis.

As the world’s largest single vaccine buyer, UNICEF plays a crucial role in routine child immunization and outbreak response, procuring over 2 billion vaccine doses annually for nearly 100 countries.