EU donates 215,000 Mpox vaccines to Africa

The European Union has announced it will donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa in a significant move to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreak on the continent.

According to a statement on Wednesday, EU said the donation includes 175,420 doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic Mpox vaccine, with an additional 40,000 doses contributed directly by the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic.

The MVA-BN vaccine, a non-replicating smallpox vaccine, is the only Mpox vaccine approved in the EU and is authorised for use in individuals aged 18 and older.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will oversee the distribution of these vaccines to the affected countries based on regional needs.

In addition to the vaccine donation, the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority is collaborating with Africa CDC to enhance Mpox diagnostics and sequencing capabilities in the region, supported by a €3.5 million grant set to be utilised by early autumn.

“The Africa CDC will distribute the vaccines according to regional needs. Through the Africa CDC, these vaccines will be distributed to affected countries.

“Furthermore, HERA is collaborating with the Africa CDC with the aim to expand access to Mpox diagnostics and sequencing in the region, with a €3.5 million grant foreseen for early autumn,” the statement read.

The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, emphasised the importance of global collaboration in health emergencies.

She stated, “Strong global partnerships are at the very core of our European Health Union. Health security threats know no borders and today, thanks to the collaboration between the European Commission, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Bavarian Nordic, we make 215,000 vaccines available to protect the most vulnerable in countries affected by the outbreak of Mpox in Africa.

“Preparedness and response to health threats is a global endeavour which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.”

The Director-General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, expressed gratitude for the swift support, noting, “The donation of over 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic is a crucial step in our fight against this crisis.

“This partnership not only delivers essential vaccines but also underscores our collective commitment to safeguarding health across Africa.

“It exemplifies the power of international collaboration in addressing public health emergencies. Together, we will strengthen our response efforts and ensure that communities across the continent receive the protection they need.”

The Africa CDC recently declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus spread across several countries.

Since the beginning of the year, over 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with additional cases in Burundi, Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.