Mpox: EU to donate 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa

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

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According to a statement on Wednesday, the EU said the donation includes 175,420 doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) 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 authorized for use in individuals aged 18 and older. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) 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 (HERA) is collaborating with Africa CDC to enhance Mpox diagnostics and sequencing capabilities in the region, supported by a €3.5 million grant to be utilized by early autumn.

Stella Kyriakides, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, emphasized the importance of global collaboration in health emergencies, stating, “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 CDC, 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 endeavor which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.”

Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, 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.