United Nations:  The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has become alert about the worsening situation in various countries due to monkeypox. UNICEF has issued an emergency tender for protection against monkeypox. UNICEF has issued this emergency tender to secure monkeypox vaccines for crisis-hit countries in collaboration with Gavi Vaccine Alliance, Africa CDC and the World Health Organization. The organizations said in a joint statement that depending on the production capacity of the manufacturers, agreements can be made to prepare 12 million vaccines by 2025.

UNICEF will establish conditional supply agreements with vaccine manufacturers under the tender. This will enable UNICEF to procure and ship vaccines without delay once financing, demand, preparation and regulatory requirements are confirmed. This will also include working with the Vaccine Alliance and the Pan American Health Organization, as well as Gavi, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO. It will facilitate donations of vaccines from existing stockpiles in high-income countries.

Some vaccines may get emergency use permission

The WHO is reviewing information submitted by manufacturers on Aug. 23 and expects to complete the review for emergency use listing by mid-September, the statement said. The agency is also reviewing emergency licensure of two vaccines manufactured by Bavarian Nordic (BAVA.CO) and Japan's KM Biologics. The WHO declared ampox a global public health emergency in August after viral infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighbouring countries. 

629 deaths have occurred so far due to ampox

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom said there have been 629 deaths from monkeypox in Congo so far this year. There have been more than 18,000 suspected cases, while Burundi has more than 150 confirmed cases. Outside the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, Sweden and Thailand have confirmed cases of the clade IB type of the virus.