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Global efforts to combat the mpox outbreak are being hindered by a shortage of vaccines, with only 200,000 doses available worldwide, despite the millions needed to tackle the emergency, says Dr. Richard Mihigo, Senior Director at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Dr Mihigo says nations, the private sector, and research institutions should collaborate to increase vaccine accessibility, particularly in low-income countries.
“Unlike COVID-19, mpox is caused by a well-known virus with an existing preventive vaccine,” Mihigo, a Rwandan doctor and a candidate for the position of WHO Africa Regional Director, wrote in an Op-Ed in Jeune Afrique.
“Yet, outbreaks in the DR Congo and neighboring countries reveal weaknesses in Africa’s public health infrastructure, particularly in surveillance and rapid response.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on August 14. Since the start of 2023, more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been recorded in DR Congo, with the virus spreading to other African countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, and the Central African Republic.
In the article published on Wednesday, August 21, the public health specialist called for stronger intra-African and international cooperation, with organizations like the WHO and Africa CDC playing crucial roles.
“Africa must not face this epidemic alone,” said Mihigo, “nor must it bear alone the human cost of a disease that we can and must eradicate.”
“Currently, it is estimated that there are about 200,000 doses of vaccine available worldwide against this virus, a figure that is far too low given the real needs,” he said, adding that East Africa alone needs several million doses of vaccine to effectively respond to the mpox threat.
Mihigo’s call came shortly after the United States, through USAID, had announced an additional $35 million in emergency health assistance to address the growing mpox outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa, which brought the total US support for the region to over $55 million.
The funding will support surveillance, diagnostics, risk communication, community engagement, and vaccination planning. Additionally, the US pledged to donate 50,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to DR Congo, the hardest-hit country.
In early August, the African Union, through Africa CDC, redirected $10.4 million from COVID-19 resources to enhance the mpox response across the continent.
This funding was meant to boost efforts in surveillance, laboratory testing, genomic sequencing, data collection, case management, and vaccine distribution.
The WHO has allocated $1.45 million from its contingency fund for emergencies to support global mpox response efforts.
The outbreak involves two main virus strains, with the deadlier strain endemic to Central Africa behind the surge in DR Congo. Mpox spreads through close contact, including skin-to-skin interaction and sexual transmission.
Various organizations and private companies have partnered to ramp up the production of mpox vaccines.
Gavi plans to establish a global stockpile of mpox vaccines by 2026, similar to its stockpiles for other diseases like cholera, Ebola, and yellow fever.
Africa CDC aims to deliver 10 million mpox vaccine doses across Africa by 2025.
Bavarian Nordic, a Denmark-based vaccine manufacturer, has partnered with Africa CDC to boost local vaccine production, with plans to produce up to two million doses this year.
