Health Unicef launches emergency tender for Mpox vaccine

The UN Children's Fund Unicef has launched an emergency tender for the vaccine in several countries in the fight against the Mpox epidemic. The aim is to ensure immediate access to available vaccines and expand production.

"Depending on demand, manufacturers' production capacities and funding, agreements can be made for up to twelve million doses by 2025," said Unicef on Saturday together with the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

As part of the tender, Unicef plans to conclude supply agreements with reservations. This will enable the UN relief agency "to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners have secured funding, confirmed demand and readiness, and regulatory requirements for vaccine acceptance are in place".

Health emergency

In Africa, the number of Mpox cases and deaths is currently rising. More than 18,000 suspected Mpox cases and 629 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year.

Since July, cases have also been reported in Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in addition to the Democratic Republic. The WHO therefore declared a public health emergency of international concern in mid-August.