The European Union has announced the donation of 215,000 doses of vaccines to Africa in a significant effort to curb the ongoing Mpox outbreak on the continent.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, the EU revealed that the donation includes 175,420 doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine, with an additional 40,000 doses provided directly by the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic.
The MVA-BN vaccine, a non-replicating smallpox vaccine, is the only Mpox vaccine currently 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 manage the distribution of these vaccines to affected countries based on regional needs.
In addition to the vaccine donation, the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is working closely with Africa CDC to improve Mpox diagnostics and sequencing capabilities across the region.
This collaboration is supported by a €3.5 million grant, which is expected to be utilized by early autumn.
The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, emphasized the importance of global cooperation in tackling health emergencies.
She noted, “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 Centres for Disease Control 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 endeavour which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.”
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, expressed his gratitude for the swift support, stating that the donation of over 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic is a crucial step in combating the crisis.
He highlighted that this partnership not only provides essential vaccines but also reinforces the commitment to protecting public health across Africa.
Naija News earlier reported that the Africa CDC declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus continues to spread across several countries.
Since the start of the year, more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with additional cases emerging in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.
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