Africa: New Initiative Aims to Expand Access to Mpox Vaccines

What the report says

A global initiative to create a stockpile of mpox vaccines was launched on 27 August, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund report distributed by AllAfrica. The effort is designed as a long-term mechanism to help countries obtain vaccines more quickly when responding to outbreaks, with operations expected to begin later this month.

The stockpile is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and coordinated through the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision. Partners in that mechanism include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. UNICEF said it will help establish, procure and manage the emergency stockpile and support rapid delivery when vaccines are requested.

The announcement builds on an access-and-allocation arrangement used during the 2024 mpox public health emergency. The agencies involved say the new system is meant to improve timeliness and equity, especially after lower-income countries faced limited access during earlier outbreaks. Mpox has continued to spread in multiple regions, and the report said two-thirds of reported cases have been in Africa.

The broader context is a push to strengthen outbreak preparedness through standing vaccine reserves, a model already used for other emergency diseases. UNICEF and WHO said the goal is to help contain outbreaks sooner, reduce severe illness and save lives, particularly in communities at higher risk.