UNICEF announced in August 2024 that it has issued an emergency tender for the procurement of mpox vaccines amid the public health emergency declared by Africa CDC and WHO. UNICEF is the world’s largest single vaccine buyer, reportedly procuring “more than 2 billion” doses annually for routine child immunisation and outbreak response on behalf of almost 100 countries. The tender is to help secure mpox vaccines for the “hardest hit countries” in a collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, WHO, PAHO, and other partners.
“This collaboration to increase access and timely allocation also includes working to facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries with the aim of containing the ongoing transmission of mpox.”
Emergency tender
Through the emergency tender UNICEF will establish conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers to purchase and ship vaccines “without delay” once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and regulatory requirements are in place. WHO is reviewing the information submitted by manufacturers in response to its invitation for expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing.
The emergency tender is intended to secure immediate vaccine access and expand production. Agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 could be put in place, depending on demand, production capacity, and funding.
Ensuring equitable access
Director of UNICEF Supply Division, Leila Pakkala, highlighted the “paramount importance” of addressing the mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to “communities who need them now”.
“There is also a pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines.”
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, agreed that “timely procurement and distribution” is “crucial to protecting the most vulnerable populations”. Dr Kaseya described the emergency tender as a “critical step forward in our collective effort to control the spread of this disease”.
“Africa CDC is committed to ensuring that vaccines are allocated swiftly and equitably across the continent, in partnership with UNICEF, Gavi, WHO, and other key stakeholders. Our unified response is essential to curbing the impact of this public health emergency and safeguarding the health and well-being of our communities.”
Dr Derrick Sim, Gavi’s interim Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer, echoed the significance of the emergency tender.
“Securing access to supply and financing, delivering doses, and in parallel ensuring countries are ready to administer them, are all vital actions that need to be conducted rapidly but thoroughly, and in a coordinated manner.”
Dr Sim welcomed the tender as “another positive step” in the response. WHO’s incidence manager for the global mpox response and acting Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention is Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, who stated that a “swift, coordinated, and equitable response is critical” in the control of this mpox emergency and future iterations.
“All of us must act decisively now or risk allowing mpox to spread further and become an even greater global threat. In an interconnected world, the fight against mpox – as with other infectious diseases and health threats – cannot be waged alone.”
Dr Van Kerkhove shared that WHO is “glad to partner” on efforts to “get life-saving tools to people in need”.
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