UNICEF Issues Emergency Tender for Monkeypox Vaccines to Combat Outbreak
UNICEF has announced an emergency tender to procure monkeypox (mpox) vaccines, which are crucial for containing the outbreak declared a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The tender aims to secure vaccines for the most affected countries, in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organisation, and other partners. This effort includes facilitating vaccine donations from high-income countries to help curb the ongoing transmission of mpox.
Under the emergency tender, UNICEF will establish conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers, enabling swift purchase and distribution of vaccines once financing, demand, and regulatory requirements are met. WHO is reviewing information from manufacturers, with the Emergency Use Listing review expected to be completed by mid-September.
This year, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicentre of the crisis, has reported more than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox, including 629 deaths, with four out of five fatalities occurring in children.
Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF’s Supply Division, stated, “Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities in need is of paramount importance. There is also an urgent need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to mpox vaccines.”
The emergency tender aims to secure immediate access to mpox vaccines and expand production. Depending on demand, production capacity, and funding, agreements for up to 12 million doses through 2025 may be established.
Vaccines are just one tool to interrupt transmission and protect communities against mpox. Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and partners are also prioritising infection prevention and control, risk communication, and community engagement. UNICEF is deploying personal protection equipment, diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, hygiene supplies, and tents to countries on the frontline of the crisis, supporting a range of medical countermeasures, including treatment, case isolation, and surveillance.
Doubts Revealed
UNICEF -: UNICEF is a part of the United Nations that helps children all over the world by providing food, education, and medical care.
Emergency Tender -: An emergency tender is a quick way to buy important things, like vaccines, when there is a big problem that needs to be solved fast.
Monkeypox -: Monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus that can make people very sick with fever, rash, and other symptoms.
Africa CDC -: Africa CDC is a group that helps African countries keep people healthy by controlling diseases and providing medical advice.
WHO -: WHO stands for the World Health Organization, which is a global group that helps countries keep people healthy and fight diseases.
Gavi -: Gavi is an organization that helps poor countries get vaccines to protect people from diseases.
Democratic Republic of the Congo -: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a large country in Africa where many people have gotten sick with monkeypox.
12 million doses -: 12 million doses means 12 million shots of the vaccine, which can help protect a lot of people from getting sick.
