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Rabat – UNICEF announced yesterday the issuance of an emergency tender to procure mpox (monkeypox) vaccines, a critical step in the global effort to combat the escalating outbreak of the disease.
According to a UNICEF report, the outbreak, which has been classified as a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has intensified the urgency for immediate action.
The tender is designed to procure mpox vaccines for the hardest-hit areas, in collaboration with key partners such as Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, and the Pan American Health Organization.
This joint initiative seeks to improve vaccine access and accelerate distribution, including through donations from high-income countries’ stockpiles.
UNICEF is set to use the emergency tender to set up conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers, allowing for swift purchase and deployment once financing, demand, readiness, and regulatory approvals are confirmed.
Meanwhile, the WHO is reviewing the information submitted by the manufacturers and is expected to decide on Emergency Use Listing by mid-September.
UNICEF fast-tracks mpox vaccine procurement
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the ongoing crisis, has reported over 18,000 suspected cases of mpoxthis year, with 629 deaths.
Monkeypox, which comes from the same viral family as smallpox, generally causes mild symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. More severe cases can lead to lesions on areas like the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
It spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact.
Leila Pakkala, Director of UNICEF Supply Division, stressed in a recent statement the urgency of the situation. “Addressing the current mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance.”
Echoing this sentiment, Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the importance of the emergency tender, emphasizing that “the timely procurement and distribution of vaccines is crucial to protecting the most vulnerable populations, particularly in the hardest-hit regions. This emergency tender is a critical step forward in our collective effort to control the spread of this disease.”
Derrick Sim, interim Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer at Gavi added that this initiative 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.”
The emergency tender strives to guarantee immediate access to existing mpox vaccines and boost production, with potential agreements securing up to 12 million doses through 2025, depending on demand and production capacity
UNICEF is also sending vital supplies, including personal protective equipment, diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, and hygiene products, to bolster medical countermeasures and surveillance.
As the largest single vaccine buyer globally, UNICEF is crucial in vaccination efforts, procuring over 2 billion doses each year for routine immunization and outbreak response in nearly 100 countries.
Morocco’s mpox response: recent developments and measures
In response to the mpox outbreak, under royal directives to monitor the situation, Morocco’s Minister of Health and Social Protection, Khalid Ait Taleb, led a meeting in August with a specialized scientific committee.
According to a press release, the meeting focused on discussing the latest epidemiological developments at both the national and international levels.
To date, there has not been one case spotted in Morocco since the new outbreak of mpox began, but authorities continue to be on high alert.
