The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the allocation of 899,000 mpox vaccine doses to nine African countries facing a surge in cases.
Mpox was declared a global public health emergency for the second time in August, following the spread of a new variant, clade Ib, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to nearby nations.
In response to vaccine criticism, the WHO approved Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine in September and is also considering another option from Japan’s KM Biologics.
The vaccines will be distributed to the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, DRC, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, with the DRC receiving 85% of the total supply.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to bring vaccines, treatments, and tests to vulnerable populations, modeled after the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The vaccines come from European countries, the U.S., Canada, and Gavi, a global vaccine alliance.
With over 46,000 cases and 1,000 deaths in Africa this year, the WHO is prioritizing swift action to curb the outbreak.
