The article discusses the arrival of the first batch of MVA-BN vaccine doses in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help combat the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Africa. The 100,000 doses of the vaccine, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, were donated by the European Union through HERA, the EU’s agency for health emergencies. This is part of a larger effort to provide aid to affected countries in Africa, with additional doses expected to arrive soon. The vaccination campaign in Congo will be managed by UNICEF, and plans are in place to deliver a total of 380,000 doses from Western partners to address the crisis.
The situation in Congo remains dire, with over 22,800 mpox cases and 622 deaths reported on the continent. The outbreaks have disproportionately impacted the DRC, where a new variant of the virus was first detected, contributing to high infection rates among children under 15. Despite efforts to procure and distribute vaccines, there is still a significant shortfall in the number of doses needed to contain the outbreaks. Wealthy countries have responded with donations from their stockpiles, but the distribution of vaccines to Africa has been limited, prompting calls for more support from governments in the region.
The MVA-BN vaccine, which has been used in Europe and the United States, is currently authorized for use in adults. Efforts are underway to gain approval for administration to children aged 12 to 17, with the European Medicines Agency reviewing additional data for this purpose. HERA has pledged and purchased 215,000 doses specifically for donation to Congo, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing global health emergencies. The United States also made a donation of 10,000 mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria, marking the first known donation to Africa since the current outbreaks began.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, had been circulating largely unnoticed in Africa before the outbreak in 2022 spread to over 70 countries. The disease has posed significant challenges to public health systems in Africa, prompting the declaration of a global emergency by the World Health Organization. The shortage of vaccines and treatments has exacerbated the situation, leading to a surge in infections and deaths on the continent. The arrival of donated vaccine doses in Congo and Nigeria represents a crucial step in the response effort, but more support is needed to effectively contain the outbreaks and prevent further spread of the virus.
