The global vaccine alliance, Gavi, announced on Wednesday its plan to purchase 500,000 doses of mpox vaccine to help combat outbreaks of the disease in African countries. The Vaccine doses, produced by Danish manufacturer Bavarian Nordic, will be made available this year, though specific delivery dates were not provided. The total cost, including transportation, delivery, and administration, is estimated at $50 million and will be fully covered by Gavi’s First Response Fund, a financial mechanism introduced in June 2024.
Since the beginning of 2024, there have been over 25,000 confirmed mpox cases and 723 related deaths, predominantly in Congo, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the situation a global health emergency. Despite a need for 3 million Vaccine doses, Congo has so far received only 250,000 Vaccine doses, donated by the EU and the U.S. More vaccines have been pledged, but their delivery dates remain unclear.
Congo, which issued emergency approval for the vaccine, plans to begin vaccinating adults in its most affected provinces—Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru—starting on October 2. Priority of the Vaccine will be given to high-risk groups, including those who have been in close contact with infected individuals and sex workers.
Gavi’s announcement comes shortly after the WHO granted its first authorization for mpox vaccine use in adults, a step that enables global organizations like Gavi and UNICEF to purchase the vaccine. However, supplies are limited, with only one manufacturer currently producing the vaccine. Last week, the Africa CDC and WHO launched a continent-wide response plan to address the mpox outbreak across 12 African nations.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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