In a significant move to combat the outbreaks of mpox disease in African nations, the global vaccine alliance Gavi has announced the procurement of 500,000 doses of mpox vaccine. Manufactured by Danish company Bavarian Nordic, these vaccine doses are expected to be made available within this year, although specific dates have not been disclosed.
Gavi revealed that the total costs associated with the acquisition, transportation, delivery, and administration of the doses will amount to $50 million. This financial commitment will be covered by Gavi's First Response Fund, a newly established financial mechanism introduced in June 2024.
Since the onset of the year, there have been over 25,000 confirmed cases of mpox, resulting in 723 deaths, with the majority of cases reported in Congo. The World Health Organization has declared the situation a global health emergency.
Despite the severity of the outbreak, Congo, the epicenter of the crisis, has only received 250,000 vaccine doses donated by the European Union and the United States. However, health authorities estimate that 3 million doses are required to effectively contain the mpox outbreak in the country.
While EU countries have pledged to donate over 500,000 additional doses, the timeline for their delivery remains uncertain.
Notably, Congo has granted emergency approval for the use of the mpox vaccine, which has previously been administered in Europe and the United States among adults. The vaccination campaign will initially target adults in the most affected provinces, Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru, commencing on October 2.
The rollout will prioritize adults who have had close contact with infected individuals and sex workers. Gavi's recent announcement follows the World Health Organization's authorization of the first mpox vaccine for adult use, marking a crucial milestone in the fight against the disease in Africa.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the significance of this authorization, highlighting its importance in addressing current outbreaks and future prevention efforts.
Last week, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO jointly launched a comprehensive response plan to address the mpox outbreak across the continent, following WHO's declaration of a global emergency in 12 African countries.
