Mpox crisis: Wider vaccine rollout in Africa could take months as UN still in tender mode

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued an emergency tender to secure mpox vaccines for the crisis-hit countries in collaboration with the Bill Gates-membered GAVI vaccine alliance and others, the Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement on Saturday (Aug31).

The statement said that agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 can be made depending on how much the manufacturers can elevate their production capacity. This means that the actual vaccine rollout could take several months.

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"The UNICEF tender is issued to help secure mpox vaccines for the hardest hit countries in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization, and other partners. This collaboration to increase access and timely allocation also includes working together to facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries to contain the ongoing transmission of mpox," an official UNICEF readout said.

Africa mpox crisis: What next?

UNICEF will next set up "conditional supply agreements" with vaccine manufacturers, similar to the ones set up during the Covid pandemic.

"This will enable UNICEF to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and the regulatory requirements for accepting the vaccines are in place," it said.

World Health Organization is reviewing the information submitted by the vaccine manufacturers on August 23 and is expected to complete its review for Emergency Use Listing by mid-September, it added.

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More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is at the epicentre of the crisis. Four out of five deaths have been in children.

"Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance. There is also a pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines," said Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala.

(With inputs from agencies)