The World Health Organization recently declared a global emergency in response to mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries. The Democratic Republic of Congo has received the first batch of 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, donated by the European Union through HERA, the agency for health emergencies. Another 100,000 doses are expected to arrive soon, with a total of 380,000 doses pledged by Western partners. The vaccine has already been used in Europe and the United States and is authorized for use in adults, with pending approval for children aged 12 to 17. UNICEF will be in charge of the vaccination campaign in the most affected provinces, but it remains unclear when the drive will begin.
The outbreak in Congo has resulted in more than 22,800 mpox cases and 622 deaths on the continent, with the majority of cases occurring in children under 15. Despite pleas from African governments, only a small number of doses have reached the continent. The European Medicines Agency is currently reviewing data to potentially administer the MVA-BN vaccine to children aged 12 to 17 by the end of the month. The United States has also made a donation of 10,000 doses to Nigeria, marking the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks began. Nigeria has recorded 40 cases of mpox this year, according to their CDC.
The European Commission, through HERA, has purchased and pledged 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine specifically for donation to Congo. This donation comes as part of efforts to combat the global health emergency caused by mpox outbreaks in Africa. The Director-General of HERA, Laurent Muschel, stated that the vaccine has been authorized for use in adults and is currently under review for use in children. The European Union and the United States have promised a total of 380,000 doses, but this falls short of the three million doses needed to effectively end the outbreaks in Congo, the epicenter of the crisis.
The mpox outbreaks in Africa have led to a significant increase in cases and deaths in recent weeks, with infections spiking by 200%. The DRC, where the new mpox variant was first detected, has been particularly hard hit. The majority of cases and fatalities are concentrated in this region, with most infections occurring in children under 15. The situation has prompted a rapid response from wealthy countries, with vaccines and treatments being distributed from their stockpiles. However, the distribution of doses to Africa has been limited. Efforts are now being made to ramp up vaccination campaigns in the most affected areas, with UNICEF taking the lead in the Congo.
In response to the global mpox outbreak, the European Union and the United States have donated doses of the MVA-BN vaccine to Congo and Nigeria, respectively. These donations are part of broader efforts to address the public health crisis stemming from the mpox outbreaks in Africa. Despite the significant number of cases and deaths reported on the continent, the current supply of vaccines falls far short of what is needed to bring the outbreaks under control. Efforts are ongoing to secure additional doses and distribute them to the most impacted areas, with a focus on reaching vulnerable populations such as children.
