Ayodeji Ake
A new global initiative has been launched to improve access to mpox vaccines and ensure that countries affected by outbreaks can receive vaccines more quickly and equitably when they are needed.
The initiative builds on the work of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners to strengthen international coordination of vaccine supplies and improve preparedness for mpox outbreaks, particularly in countries with limited access to vaccines.
At the centre of the initiative is the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG), a mechanism established in 1997 following major meningitis outbreaks in Africa.
ICG was created to coordinate emergency supplies of vaccines and antibiotics for countries facing major disease outbreaks.
Its role is based on the recognition that although outbreaks are difficult to predict, timely vaccination can help prevent further transmission and reduce the impact of infectious diseases.
Traditionally, ICG has been responsible for ensuring equitable access to licensed vaccines against cholera, meningitis, yellow fever, and Ebola virus disease during emergencies.
Its responsibilities include managing global emergency vaccine stockpiles and working with partners, donors, and vaccine manufacturers to determine the size and composition of the stocks required for effective outbreak response.
The expansion of the mechanism to include mpox is expected to provide a more structured approach to the distribution of mpox vaccines, particularly during emergencies when demand can rise rapidly.
The move builds on measures introduced during the global mpox response. In 2024, WHO and its partners established an Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) specifically for mpox vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests.
AAM was designed to support the allocation of limited medical countermeasures to countries and communities where they were most urgently required.
Under the new, longer-term arrangement, ICG will continue and strengthen the work initiated through the temporary mechanism.
The development also follows a decision by the Gavi Board in 2025 to formally approve the establishment and financing of a global mpox vaccine stockpile under the long-standing ICG framework.
The stockpile is intended to ensure that vaccine supplies can be mobilised rapidly during outbreaks instead of relying solely on vaccine procurement after an emergency has already escalated.
The initiative comes amid continued concern over mpox, a viral disease that can cause fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes and painful lesions.
While many people recover, severe disease and death can occur, particularly among vulnerable populations.
WHO has stressed the importance of vaccination as part of a broader outbreak response that also includes surveillance, testing, case management, contact tracing, infection prevention and community engagement.
The global vaccine initiative is expected to complement, rather than replace, national public health measures.
Health authorities and international partners will also need to address challenges around vaccine supply, financing, delivery and equitable access to ensure that the availability of a global stockpile translates into timely vaccination on the ground.
The expansion of the ICG mechanism to include mpox represents a shift from short-term emergency arrangements towards a more sustainable system for vaccine preparedness.
By maintaining emergency stocks and establishing clearer mechanisms for allocation, global health agencies aim to reduce delays in responding to future mpox outbreaks and ensure that countries most affected are not left behind in accessing lifesaving vaccines.