The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched an emergency tender in partnership with the Gavi vaccine alliance, Africa CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to secure mpox vaccines for countries in crisis.

The joint initiative aims to procure up to 12 million doses by 2025, contingent on manufacturers’ production capacity.UNICEF will establish conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers, enabling swift purchase and shipment of vaccines once financing, demand, readiness, and regulatory requirements are met.

The collaboration also involves working with the Vaccine Alliance, Pan American Health Organization, Gavi, Africa CDC, and WHO to facilitate vaccine donations from high-income countries’ existing stockpiles.

Meanwhile, WHO is reviewing manufacturers’ submissions for an emergency use listing, expected to be completed by mid-September.

The move comes as the mpox outbreak continues to affect several countries, with over 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths reported in Congo, 150 confirmed cases in Burundi, and cases detected in Sweden and Thailand.