WHO and partners are establishing an access and distribution mechanism for measles vaccines, treatments and tests

In collaboration with Member States, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have established a mechanism to access and allocate medical countermeasures against smallpox, including vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) will increase access to these tools for those most at risk and ensure that limited supplies are used efficiently and equitably.

This is part of the response to the Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on August 14, 2024, following an increase in smallpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries. Fifteen countries in Africa have reported measles this year. The recommendations, issued on the basis of advice from the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, asked States parties to ensure “equitable access to safe, effective and quality antimeasles for measles”.

“Along with other public health interventions, vaccines, therapy and diagnostics are powerful tools for bringing measles epidemics under control in Africa,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for international coordination to promote equal access to these tools so that they can be used most effectively where they are most needed. We call on countries that have stocks of vaccines and other products to come forward with donations to prevent infections, stop transmission and save lives.”

The AAM was established as part of the Interim Medical Countermeasures Network (i-MCM-Net). i-MCM-Net brings together partners from around the world, including UN and other international agencies, health organizations, civil society organizations, industry and the private sector to build an efficient ecosystem for the development, production, allocation and delivery of medical countermeasures. The network has been endorsed by WHO member states as a mechanism to act in the interim while negotiations continue towards an agreement on the pandemic.

In addition to WHO, the AAM for mpox includes members of the i-MCM-Net network: African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, FIND, Gavi, PAHO Revolving Fund , UNICEF, Unitaid and others.

Over 3.6 million doses of the vaccine have been promised for the measles response. This includes 620,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine promised to affected countries by the European Commission, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Spain and the United States, as well as vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic. Japan has pledged 3 million doses of the LC16 vaccine, the largest number of doses pledged so far.

The recent increase in measles cases, coupled with the limited availability of vaccines and other medical countermeasures, underscores the need for a collaborative and transparent process for the equitable distribution of these critical resources. AAM is working to allocate currently scarce supplies of vaccines and diagnostic tools to those at greatest risk of infection, including vaccination contacts for confirmed cases, and to ensure access to diagnostic points of care in countries with measles outbreaks so that people with suspected cases can systematically test and dispose of.

AAM will operate based on these guiding principles:

• Preventing disease and death: Prioritize vaccination and other tools to interrupt transmission for those most at risk to prevent disease and death.
• Mitigating inequality: Ensure equal access to medical countermeasures for all people at risk, regardless of socio-economic or demographic background.
• Ensuring transparency and flexibility: Establish and maintain clear and open communication about allocation decisions and be prepared to adjust strategies as new data emerges or situations change.

“WHO and partners are supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries in implementing an integrated approach to case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccination, clinical and home care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and mobilization, and specialized logistical support,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme. “AAM will provide a reliable pipeline of vaccines and other tools to ensure success on the ground in stopping transmission and reducing suffering.”