A batch of 500,000 mpox vaccines has been purchased by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance for delivery to African countries this year, according to The Guardian.
Presumably, 10 million vaccines are needed to meet demand, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo received only 100,000 vaccines earlier this month. The new Clade 1b strain killed more than 700 people and infected about 22,000.
Neighbouring countries Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya also reported sporadic cases. Gavi’s head, Dr Sania Nishtar, stated:
We are committed to working with affected governments and our partners to turn these vaccines into vaccinations as quickly and effectively as possible and, over time, to build a global vaccine stockpile if sufficient funding is secured for Gavi’s work through 2030.
Gavi claimed it was the first time it had used the First Response Fund, set up in June to procure vaccines in public health emergencies. The alliance added that it would spend up to $50 million, shortly after the World Health Organisation declared mpox a public health emergency in mid-August.
Reuters reported that rich countries, such as Japan, the United States, and Canada, stockpiled millions of mpox vaccine doses. However, only a few pledged to help stop the outbreak in Africa.
Manufacturer Bavarian Nordic praised the deal, arguing that it would significantly increase the amount of vaccine available on the African continent.
