UNICEF, allies roll out plan to combat mpox outbreak with new vaccine pacts

Published on : 09/02/2024, Time: 5:28 PM

UNICEF will set up conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers to ensure prompt purchase and delivery of vaccines in response to rising mpox cases, the agency said on Monday.

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

UNICEF has issued an emergency tender to help secure mpox vaccines for the hardest hit countries in collaboration with Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization and other partners.

Vaccines are one of several tools to interrupt transmission and to protect children and communities against mpox.

Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and partners are prioritizing infection prevention and control, as well as risk communication and community engagement. As part of this effort, UNICEF is deploying personal protection equipment, diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, hygiene supplies and tents to countries most affected by the crisis. The supplies support a host of medical countermeasures such as treatment, case isolation and surveillance.

“Vaccines can play a critical role in containing the mpox outbreak which was declared a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO),” .Africa CDC said.

“This collaboration to increase access and timely allocation also includes working together to facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries with the aim of containing the ongoing transmission of mpox,” it added.

Dr Derrick Sim, interim Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said that the floating of the emergency tender was “an important step” in tackling the mpox crisis.

“With several partners working on securing access to supply, today’s announcement represents an important step in this emergency, enabling UNICEF to purchase and deliver vaccines after Gavi and other partners make funding available and sign purchase or donation agreements with manufacturers for the most immediate dose needs,” Dr Sim said.