UNICEF recently announced an emergency tender to secure doses of mpox vaccine for the hardest-hit countries, part of a collaboration of global health groups including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC); Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In other developments, the European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shared its latest epidemiologic update on clade 1 mpox spread in Africa, and the WHO weighed in on Sweden’s imported clade 1b case, the first outside of Africa.
Tender paves way for speedy purchase, shipments
In a joint announcement, UNICEF and its partners said they will work together to facilitate donations from existing stockpiles in high-income countries. The tender will allow UNICEF to set up supply agreements with vaccine makers, paving the way for purchase and shipments once countries and their partners have secured financing, confirmed demand and readiness, and have regulatory requirements in place for accepting the vaccines.
The WHO is reviewing emergency use listing submissions from vaccine manufacturers and expects to complete the process by the middle of September. The agency, however, has signaled that groups can go ahead and buy vaccine.
UNICEF said the tender is designed not only to secure immediate access to vaccines, but also to expand production. It estimates that agreements of up to 12 million doses through 2025 can be put in place, depending on demand, production capacity, and funding.
UNICEF is the world’s biggest vaccine buyer, procuring more than 2 billion doses each year for childhood vaccination and outbreak response across 100 countries.
DRC children bear biggest burden
Meanwhile, the ECDC yesterday published an epidemiologic update on clade 1 mpox, based on the updates from Africa CDC and the WHO's African regional office.
Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are nearing 20,000, which includes suspected and confirmed cases. Most of the country's cases have been reported in people younger than 15 years old, with males accounting for 73% of cases.
Burundi has reported the most clade 1b cases outside of the DRC, and community transmission is thought to play a role.
WHO details Sweden's imported clade 1b case
In an August 30 notification, the WHO shared more details about an imported clade 1b case in Sweden, which, along with Thailand, have reported the first confirmations of the clade outside of Africa.
The patient is an adult between the ages of 30 and 40 who arrived on August 12 with mild symptoms from an mpox-affected country in Africa. The patient sought care the next day, during which samples were obtained. The patient is receiving care in isolation.
Close contacts include one travel companion who is being monitored. The person had a sore throat but tested negative for mpox on August 16.
The WHO said the risk of further spread in Sweden is very low, because appropriate response measures were in place. However, it warned that the patient's travel history is still under investigation and he or she was likely infectious during travel.
