US to donate 1 million mpox vaccine doses to halt outbreak in Africa
President Joe Biden is set to announce a significant public health initiative on Tuesday, pledging 1 million doses of mpox vaccines and at least $500 million to support African nations in combating the ongoing outbreak of the viral infection. The announcement will take place during the United Nations General Assembly, where Biden will urge other countries to contribute similar support.
According to a senior administration official, this initiative comes in response to a recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that mpox is a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. The outbreak, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spread to neighboring countries and as far as India, prompting heightened international concern.
The official noted that while mpox typically presents mild symptoms, it can be fatal in rare instances and spreads through close contact. The outbreak has been characterized by a newly identified variant, clade Ib, which appears to transmit more easily.
“The expectation is that the U.S.-donated doses will primarily consist of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine known as Jynneos, with many doses sourced from a national stockpile,” the official explained. This donation adds to the 60,000 vaccine doses the U.S. has previously provided.
Gavi, the public-private alliance dedicated to improving vaccine access in low-income countries, is expected to facilitate the distribution of the donated vaccines. The Biden administration emphasizes Gavi’s role in ensuring equitable access to these critical resources.
“We feel strongly that Gavi is the multilateral institution best positioned to procure and equitably distribute vaccines,” the official stated.
In a related effort, Gavi announced last week its plans to purchase 500,000 doses of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine to further support the mpox response. Additionally, the Biden administration is advocating for increased vaccine manufacturing capabilities in low- and middle-income countries and is collaborating with Brazil to explore support mechanisms through the Group of 20 nations.
The official cautioned that recent cuts to pandemic response funding by Congress could hinder the U.S. domestic capacity to respond effectively to potential mpox cases. “We’re really squeezing right now to be able to respond effectively,” the official said, expressing concern about future funding cuts impacting outbreak preparedness.
With no current manufacturers in Africa capable of producing the complex drug substance required for the vaccine, the U.S. initiative aims to bolster both immediate responses and long-term vaccine production capabilities in the region.
