By Hazvinei Mwanaka
The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued an emergency tender to secure Monkeypox (Mpox) vaccines for crisis hit countries in Africa.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy.
Mpox was declared a public health emergency by both the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the WHO.
In a news release, UNICEF said vaccines play a critical role in containing the Mpox outbreak.
Picture courtesy of CDC
According to UNICEF, the tender is issued in collaboration with Africa CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization and other partners to secure Mpox vaccines for the hardest hit countries.
“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.
“Under the emergency tender, UNICEF will set up conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers. This will enable UNICEF to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and the regulatory requirements for accepting the vaccines are in place,” said UNICEF in the release.
According to the release, WHO is currently reviewing the information submitted by manufacturers on 23 August and is expected to complete its review for Emergency Use Listing by mid-September.
“Addressing the current Mpox vaccine shortage and delivering vaccines to communities who need them now is of paramount importance. There is also a pressing need for a universal and transparent allocation mechanism to ensure equitable access to Mpox vaccines,” said Director of UNICEF Supply Division Leila Pakkala.
More than 18,000 suspected cases of Mpox, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is at the epicenter of the crisis. Four out of five deaths have been in children.
*Banner Image courtesy of BSIP / Contributor / Getty Images