Global Initiative establishes dedicated Mpox vaccine reserve to aid rapid response

SWITZERLAND—** A global initiative to establish a stockpile of mpox vaccines was launched on 27 August, creating a long-term mechanism to help countries access vaccines quickly during outbreaks.**

The global mpox vaccine stockpile is expected to begin operations later this month.

The Gavi Board approved the initiative in 2025 and is funding it in coordination with the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision.

The ICG brings together the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mechanism to improve equitable vaccine access

The new stockpile builds on the Access and Allocation Mechanism established in 2024 during the mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Under the new arrangement, countries will be able to request vaccines based on outbreak needs, helping ensure timely and equitable access.

The mechanism aims to support governments in protecting people at risk, limiting transmission and reducing severe disease during outbreaks.

Mpox continues to cause outbreaks in several parts of the world, with about two thirds of reported cases occurring in the African Region.

Between 1 January 2022 and 31 July 2026, 145 countries and territories reported 190,683 confirmed cases and 529 deaths.

Mpox is a viral disease that spreads mainly through close physical contact. Animal to human transmission also continues in parts of Africa, creating a continuing risk of new outbreaks.

Although many infections are mild, mpox can cause severe illness, particularly among children and people with weakened immune systems.

Vaccination can help protect people at increased risk, reduce severe disease and support faster control of outbreaks.

Gavi calls for global access

Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said the global response to the 2022 mpox outbreak exposed major inequalities in access to vaccines.

She said lower-income countries struggled to obtain vaccines and that the experience demonstrated the need for a mechanism that could make this global public health resource available to countries based on need rather than purchasing power.

Nishtar said Gavi supported the international response to the 2024 mpox emergency by securing rapid access to vaccines through its First Response Fund.

She added that Gavi’s decision to finance the new stockpile reflects its commitment to responding more effectively to country needs.

Partners welcome new stockpile

Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the IFRC, described mpox as a serious disease and said equitable access to vaccines remains essential to controlling its spread.

Dr Daniela Garone, International Medical Coordinator at MSF, welcomed the stockpile, saying the mechanism would support allocating vaccines according to demand and its potential impact on outbreak control.

She also stressed the need for close cooperation among countries, regional bodies, health programmes, communities and public health partners because different mpox variants affect different populations.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, said mpox can have serious consequences for children, including stigma, disrupted learning and separation from family and friends.

She said the stockpile would help deliver vaccines more quickly to children, families and communities at greatest risk.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, said the initiative represents an important step towards a more sustainable and equitable approach to mpox outbreak response.

He said the dedicated stockpile would allow countries to access vaccines more quickly, helping health authorities save lives and contain outbreaks before they spread further.

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