UNICEF launches urgent tender to secure measles vaccine for crisis-affected countries in collaboration with African CDC, Gavi and WHO

UNICEF announced today that it has launched an urgent tender for the procurement of measles vaccines. Vaccines can play a key role in containing measles outbreaks, which have been declared a public health emergency by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

A UNICEF tender was launched to provide measles vaccines to the worst-affected countries in collaboration with the African CDC, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, the Pan American Health Organization and other partners. This collaboration to increase access and timely distribution also includes working together to facilitate vaccine donations from existing stocks in high-income countries with the goal of containing the ongoing transmission of mpix.

As part of the urgent tender, UNICEF will conclude conditional procurement contracts with vaccine manufacturers. This will allow UNICEF to purchase and ship vaccines without delay once countries and partners secure funding, confirm demand and readiness, and establish regulatory requirements for vaccine acceptance. WHO is currently reviewing the information submitted by manufacturers on August 23 and is expected to complete the review for the emergency list by mid-September.

More than 18,000 suspected cases of measles, including 629 deaths, have been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is at the epicenter of the crisis. Four of the five deaths were children.

“It is of utmost importance to address the current measles vaccine shortage and to get the vaccine to the communities that need it now. There is also an urgent need for a universal and transparent distribution mechanism to ensure equitable access to measles vaccines,” said UNICEF Director of Procurement Leila Pakkala.

“As we face the current measles outbreak, timely procurement and distribution of vaccines is critical to protect the most vulnerable populations, especially in the hardest-hit regions. This extraordinary tender is a key step forward in our collective efforts to control the spread of this disease. The African CDC is committed to ensuring rapid and equitable distribution of vaccines across the continent, in partnership with UNICEF, Gavi, WHO and other key stakeholders. Our unified response is critical to countering the impact of this public health emergency and safeguarding the health and well-being of our communities,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.

“With several partners working to secure access to supplies, today's announcement represents an important step in this emergency, enabling UNICEF to purchase and deliver vaccines once Gavi and other partners make funds available and sign purchase or donation agreements with manufacturers for the most immediate dose needs,” said Dr. Derrick Sim, Interim Chief Vaccine Program and Market Officer at Gavi, Vaccine Alliance. “Ensuring access to supplies and funding, delivering doses, and in parallel ensuring that countries are ready to deploy them, are all vital actions that must be carried out quickly, but thoroughly and in a coordinated manner. We welcome this tender as another positive step our Alliance and African CDC are taking in this response.”

“A rapid, coordinated and equitable response is essential to control the current measles emergency and prevent future ones,” said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Incident Leader for the Global Measles Response and Acting Director for Epidemic Preparedness and Prevention and pandemics. “We must all act decisively now or risk allowing smallpox to spread further and become an even greater global threat. In an interconnected world, the fight against smallpox – as with other infectious diseases and health threats – cannot be fought alone. WHO is pleased to work with UNICEF, Gavi, Africa CDC, other partners and affected countries to get life-saving tools to people in need.”

The emergency tender was designed to ensure immediate access to available smallpox vaccines, as well as to expand production. Depending on demand, the manufacturer's production capacity and financing, contracts for up to 12 million doses may be concluded by 2025.

Vaccines are one of several tools used to stop transmission and protect children and communities from measles. The African CDC, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO and partners are also prioritizing infection prevention and control and risk communication and community engagement. As part of this, UNICEF is sending personal protective equipment, diagnostic tests, treatment kits, hygiene supplies and tents to countries at the forefront of the crisis. These supplies support a range of medical countermeasures such as treatment, case isolation and surveillance.

UNICEF is the world's largest single purchaser of vaccines, procuring more than 2 billion doses of vaccine annually for routine childhood immunization and epidemic response on behalf of nearly 100 countries.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the most difficult places in the world to reach the most disadvantaged children. In more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for all.

About Africa CDC

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the African Union's continental autonomous public health agency that supports member states in efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, and disease prevention and control.

About Gavi, Vaccine Alliance

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half of the world's children against some of the world's deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country governments and donors, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners.

Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped vaccinate an entire generation – over 1 billion children – and prevented more than 17.3 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 low-income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles of vaccines against Ebola, cholera, meningococcal and yellow fever. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, primarily zero-dose children who have not received a single dose of the vaccine. The Vaccine Alliance uses innovative funding and the latest technology—from drones to biometrics—to save lives, stop epidemics before they spread, and help countries move toward self-sufficiency.

ABOUT WHO

Committed to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and supports global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal opportunity to live a safe and healthy life. We are the UN health agency that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in more than 150 locations – leading the world's response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health problems and expanding access to medicines and healthcare. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.