## A Major Leap for Global Health Security: New Mpox Vaccine Stockpile Arrives In a significant move to enhance global health security, a new international initiative has been launched to create and manage a dedicated stockpile of mpox vaccines. This groundbreaking effort, which became operational in September 2026, aims to guarantee that nations worldwide can promptly access crucial vaccines whenever mpox outbreaks occur. This collective action is designed to prevent the access disparities that have characterized previous global health crises, ensuring a more equitable and effective response to this persistent viral threat. ### Understanding Mpox: A Persistent Health Challenge Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can cause severe illness. It primarily spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, and can manifest with symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash that can be debilitating and disfiguring. While most cases are mild, mpox can lead to serious complications and even death, particularly in young children and individuals with weakened immune systems. The disease can also spread from animals to humans, especially in parts of Africa, contributing to the ongoing risk of new outbreaks. Since January 2022 through July 2026, a staggering 190,683 confirmed cases and 529 deaths were reported across 145 countries and territories. Alarmingly, two-thirds of these reported cases originated in the African Region, underscoring the disproportionate impact on certain areas. The virus's ability to spread globally, as seen during the 2022 public health emergency, highlights the need for a robust and internationally coordinated defense strategy. ### Addressing Past Inequities with a Forward-Looking Solution The decision to establish this global mpox vaccine stockpile was driven by critical lessons learned from the 2022 mpox outbreak, during which many lower-income countries faced significant challenges in securing timely access to vaccines. This created a stark imbalance in the ability of different nations to protect their populations. To rectify this, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, approved the establishment and funding of this long-term mechanism in 2025. This move builds upon the successful Access and Allocation Mechanism first established in 2024 during the last mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The new stockpile is coordinated by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, a well-established partnership comprising 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). This collaborative effort ensures that vaccine distribution will be guided by principles of demand and impact, rather than a country's ability to pay. ### The International Coordinating Group (ICG): A History of Emergency Response The International Coordinating Group (ICG) has a proven track record in managing global emergency vaccine supplies. Established in 1997 in response to major meningitis outbreaks in Africa, the ICG's core mandate is to ensure equitable access to licensed vaccines for various diseases during outbreaks. It has successfully overseen emergency stockpiles and coordinated vaccine provision for cholera, meningitis, yellow fever, and Ebola virus disease, demonstrating its expertise in rapid, targeted deployment of vaccines in emergency settings. Its inclusion of mpox vaccines marks a natural and crucial expansion of its life-saving work. By leveraging the ICG's experience, the new mpox vaccine stockpile can efficiently determine the necessary size and composition of its reserves, working closely with partners, donors, and manufacturers. This ensures that sufficient emergency supplies are readily available for immediate response, allowing countries to contain outbreaks more swiftly, prevent severe illness, and ultimately save lives. ### The Vision for a Safer World: Partner Perspectives Leaders from the partnering organizations have voiced strong support for this initiative, emphasizing its importance for global health equity and security. Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, highlighted the unacceptable disparity in vaccine access during the 2022 mpox outbreak. She underscored Gavi’s commitment to ensuring that all countries, regardless of their economic standing, can access these vital tools to save lives. This initiative aligns with Gavi's 'Leap approach,' focusing on increased responsiveness to country needs and protecting the world from the threat of this deadly disease. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the IFRC, expressed his satisfaction, calling it an 'important step' in controlling mpox. He stressed the absolute necessity of vaccine access for all who need it, affirming that the global coordination mechanism and stockpile will ensure vaccines reach the most at-risk communities precisely when and where they are needed. Dr. Daniela Garone, International Medical Coordinator for MSF, welcomed the ICG's role in ensuring equal allocation based on demand and impact. She pointed out the complex nature of mpox, with different variants affecting diverse populations, necessitating close collaboration across various levels – from local communities to global partners – to effectively reach more people with vaccines. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, emphasized the devastating impact mpox can have on children, not just physically, but also through stigma, disrupted education, and fear from isolation. She affirmed that this initiative will be crucial in quickly delivering vaccines to the most vulnerable children, families, and communities. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised the stockpile as a significant step towards a more sustainable and equitable response to mpox. He noted that establishing a dedicated global stockpile, using a proven approach, ensures quicker access for countries, leading to saved lives and contained outbreaks before they can spread further. ### Protecting Vulnerable Communities and Children Mpox can have a particularly severe impact on children, not only through the direct physical effects of the disease but also through the associated challenges of stigma, isolation from family and friends, and interruptions to their learning. This new vaccine stockpile is designed to rapidly deliver protection to these most vulnerable populations, ensuring that health interventions are not only effective but also compassionate and child-focused. By establishing this global stockpile, the international community is taking a proactive stance against mpox. It represents a collective commitment to health equity, ensuring that every country has the tools to protect its citizens from this disease. This mechanism will not only save lives and prevent severe illness but also contribute significantly to global health security, building a more resilient world against emerging and re-emerging infectious threats. ## The Role of Vaccines in Mpox Containment Vaccines play a critical role in containing mpox outbreaks. By protecting individuals at risk of infection and severe disease, they help to break chains of transmission, reduce the overall burden of illness, and prevent widespread epidemics. The strategic deployment of vaccines, particularly to close contacts of confirmed cases and high-risk groups, can quickly bring an outbreak under control. This new global stockpile facilitates such targeted and timely interventions, ensuring that vaccines are available precisely when and where they can make the biggest difference. This approach minimizes the potential for mpox to become endemic in new regions and reduces the likelihood of future public health emergencies.