A global mpox vaccine stockpile will begin operations in September in a bid to ensure that all countries have access to vaccines when responding to mpox outbreaks.

In a statement on Wednesday, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), said the commencement of operations follows the launch of a global initiative to establish the stockpile on August 27, 2026.

The statement read, “Set to begin operations later this month, this new global mpox vaccine stockpile that all countries can access is a resource that was approved by the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) in 2025, and is funded by Gavi and coordinated by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. The ICG partners are 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).

“The initiative builds on the Access and Allocation Mechanism established in 2024 during the last mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and will ensure that countries have timely and equitable access to vaccines for outbreak response.”

According to the statement, two-thirds of reported cases occurred in Africa, while from January 1, 2022, to July 31, 2026, 145 countries and territories reported 190,683 confirmed cases and 529 deaths.

Speaking on the development, the CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Sania Nishtar, stated that the 2022 mpox outbreak witnessed low-income countries being left behind in terms of access to vaccines, prompting the need for a mechanism to ensure they can be accessed by those who need them most.

Mr Nishtar further stated that, “Core to the Gavi Leap approach is increasing our responsiveness to country needs, and the bottom line is that any country in the world – not just those with the ability to pay the most – should be able to use this tool to save lives.

“That is why Gavi supported the international response to the 2024 global mpox emergency by securing rapid access to doses through our First Response Fund, and why our Board agreed to establish and finance a global stockpile managed by our ICG partners. Our hope is that this stockpile will keep the world safer from the threat of this deadly disease.”

Secretary-General and CEO of the IFRC, Jagan Chapagain, stated that, “Mpox is a horrible illness so I’m pleased that we’ve got to this important step in the battle to control it. Access to vaccines – for all who need them – is absolutely vital. That’s why this global coordination mechanism and vaccine stockpile matters. Both will help ensure vaccines reach the people and communities at greatest risk – when and where they are needed most. This is rare good news.”

On her part, the International Medical Coordinator at MSF, Daniela Garone, welcomed the establishment of the vaccine stockpile under the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, which allows for the equitable allocation of vaccines based on demand and impact in controlling disease outbreaks.

Mrs Garone added, “The distinctive nature of mpox, with the coexistence of different variants that affect different populations, now demands a close collaboration between country, regional and global mechanisms as well as between disease programmes, health managers, communities and public health partners to reach more people with mpox vaccines.”

UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell noted that, “Mpox can be devastating for children – not just its physical effects, but also the stigma, interrupted learning, and fear that can come with being isolated from family and friends. This vital initiative will help us quickly get vaccines to the children, families, and communities most at risk of the disease.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the launch as “an important step towards a more sustainable and equitable approach to mpox outbreak response,” adding that, “by establishing a dedicated global stockpile, using an approach that has proven successful for managing other emergency vaccines, we are ensuring that countries can access them more quickly when they need them, saving lives and containing outbreaks before they spread further.”

The statement said mpox is a viral disease that spreads primarily through close physical contact between people, while animal-to-human transmission continues to occur in parts of Africa, contributing to the ongoing risk of new outbreaks.

The statement explained that mpox can cause severe disease, especially in children and people with suppressed immune systems, adding that by protecting people at risk of infection and severe disease, vaccines help contain mpox outbreaks more quickly, prevent severe illness, and save lives.