215,420 Mpox Vaccines Target Africa's Outbreak

Since the beginning of 2022 and as of late July 2024, a total of 37,583 mpox cases and 1,451 deaths (case fatality rate 3.9%) have been reported from 15 African Union Member States. In an attempt to reduce this outbreak, the U.S. FDA and EMA-approved mpox vaccine is being deployed.

Bavarian Nordic A/S recently announced a new order from the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) for the MVA-BN® (JYNNEOS) vaccine.

HERA will procure 175,420 vaccine doses to donate to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) to support their strengthened response to the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa.

Additionally, Bavarian Nordic will donate 40,000 doses to HERA, which will also be donated to the ACDC.

This larger donation follows a recent pledge from Bavarian Nordic for 15,000 doses as part of a coordinated response by Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF in the African region.

“Mpox is spreading at an alarming rate in Africa, calling for further action from the international community. We are proud to support HERA’s contribution of vaccines to the region and are pleased to announce an additional donation from Bavarian Nordic,” said Paul Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic, in a press release on August 13, 2024.

Currently, two African countries have granted Emergency Use Authorization for the MVA-BN vaccine.

Seperately, the WHO Director-General issued the following statement on August 14, 2024, "In light of the expanding outbreak in east and central Africa, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have convened this Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern."

"When I declared an end to the previous mpox PHEIC last year (2023), I issued standing recommendations under the IHR, which are due to expire next week. I have decided to extend them for another year to support countries in responding to the chronic risk of mpox."

"Were I to decide, on your advice, that the current situation represents a public health emergency of international concern, I would issue temporary recommendations by the IHR, again on your advice."

The JYNNEOS vaccine is available in the United States at designated clinics and pharmacies.