Access and allocation mechanism for medical countermeasures (AAM)

In coordination with Member States, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have established an mpox access and allocation mechanism (AAM) for medical countermeasures (MCM) including vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests. The AAM will increase access to these tools for people at highest risk and ensure that the limited supplies are used effectively and equitably. 

Building on the i-MCM-Net foundation, the work of the AAM, which is a collaboration of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; UNICEF and WHO, highlights the importance of international coordination in addressing public health emergencies. By working together, countries and organizations can ensure that medical countermeasures reach those most in need, ultimately saving lives and preventing further spread of the disease.

Guiding principles

The following guiding principles form the foundation for an effective, equitable, and community-centered approach to the access and allocation mechanism:

• Preventing illness and death: Prioritize vaccination and other tools to interrupt transmission for those at greatest risk to prevent illness and death.
• Mitigating inequity: Ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures for all people at risk, irrespective of socio-economic or demographic background.
• Ensuring transparency and flexibility: Establish and maintain clear and open communication about allocation decisions and be ready to adapt strategies as new data emerge or situations change.

Ensuring equitable access to MCMs is crucial for effectively controlling and mitigating mpox outbreaks. This necessitates robust allocation and supply chain coordination to ensure the timely and fair distribution of MCMs and other essential resources. Transparent, needs-based allocation frameworks, supported by efficient logistics, will create a resilient supply chain for the global mpox response.

The following objectives are designed to ensure a responsive and equitable global mpox response, effectively addressing the evolving challenges of the outbreak.

• Supply availability and access: Facilitate transparent virtual pooling of MCMs, engage manufacturers for access and pricing, and develop a comprehensive supply landscape to coordinate allocation. 
• Global demand forecast and aggregation: Aggregate and align MCM requests from countries and regions with available supply, focusing on at-risk populations. Employ predictive analytics to forecast vaccine demand and identify potential shortages, analyzing trends and patterns in vaccine requests and usage to optimize distribution strategies
• Strategic allocation: Prioritize MCM allocation based on epidemiological data and outbreak strategies, regularly adjusting to ensure MCMs reach those most in need, aiding in the control of mpox transmission. This involves conducting geo-spatial analysis to map MCMs distribution and identify in real time hotspots of sustained transmission with and without access to MCMs.
• Effective communication with stakeholders: Implement a multi-faceted communication strategy utilizing digital platforms, and strategic engagement to ensure clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders involved in the coordination and distribution of MCMs.