Africa to Receive First Mpox Vaccines Amid Global Inequity Concerns
Africa's first batch of mpox vaccines is finally arriving this week, much later than in other parts of the world where the vaccines have been available for weeks.
While over 70 countries outside Africa have had access to these vaccines for weeks, the continent is just now receiving 10,000 doses, donated by the United States government.
ALSO READ: WHO seeks mpox vaccine manufacturers for emergency evaluation amid surging outbreak
This delay, which comes even after the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the persistent global healthcare inequities, public health officials and scientists warned.
The 2022 outbreak of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, raised the global alarm, particularly with the emergence of a new variant, clade Ib, which began spreading from DR Congo into neighboring African countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency on August 14.
It was only recently that the WHO started the process to provide African countries with access to vaccines through international agencies, despite the disease being endemic on the continent for years.
Dr Richard Mihigo, Senior Director at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, pointed out that global efforts to combat the outbreak have been hindered by a severe vaccine shortage. He said only 200,000 doses are available worldwide, despite the millions needed to address the emergency.
Dr Mihigo called for increased collaboration between nations, the private sector, and research institutions to boost vaccine accessibility, especially in low-income countries.
Mpox is a potentially deadly infection that spreads through close physical contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. With only 10 million doses estimated to be needed across Africa to manage the outbreak, the slow vaccine rollout poses risks.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had to rely on donations from wealthier nations due to the lack of international vaccine distribution.
ALSO READ: Africa CDC, Bavarian Nordic to boost mpox vaccine production in Africa
Dr Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, in a letter to African Union Member States on August 23, highlighted several challenges, hindering the continent's response to mpox emergency.
Among these challenges, he said was the fact that only three African countries, Nigeria, South Africa, and DR Congo, had approved the use of mpox vaccines. He urged other African nations to approve the vaccine's initiation.
ALSO READ: Africa CDC warns countries to be vigilant as mpox spreads to 13 countries
Dr Kaseya also stressed the scarcity of domestic resources in African countries, limited public awareness efforts, and the dominance of Western nations in the demand for and production of mpox vaccines.
"There is a serious risk that Africa will not be considered in the distribution of vaccines and other medical countermeasures if African leaders do not unite and assert their presence in the fight against this disease," Dr. Kaseya warned.
The cross-border spread of the virus remains a threat, especially in countries previously unaffected by mpox.
Africa's limited diagnostic and testing capabilities, and weak surveillance systems have led to underreporting and under-detection of cases, with testing rates standing at 18% in some countries, according to Africa CDC.
Berlin has said it will donate almost all of its reserve of mpox vaccines to the DRC and other African nations. The WHO says the spread of the disease "can be stopped."
Germany on Monday announced that it would donate 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations in hopes of getting an outbreak of the disease under control.
The gift will all but wipe out the German military's reserve of roughly 118,000 doses.
Berlin will also lend financial support to its effort, providing funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as supporting partners in Africa through the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Berlin's aim is, "to support in solidarity the international efforts to contain mpox on the African continent."
Hebestreit, noting that these were immediate-term measures, added that Berlin would also work alongside the African Union (AU) to foster local vaccine production.
New mpox strain is deadlier, more transmissible
The World Health Organization (WHO) this month declared a recent mpox outbreak in the DRC a global public health emergency when cases began showing up outside the country.
The WHO claims the disease "can be stopped" but notes that this will require a comprehensive and expensive global effort.
France last week announced that it would donate 100,000 doses and the US, too, will donate 50,000.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been around for decades, yet a new, more virulent strain is thought to be behind its recent spread.
Deadly and communicable, the Clade 1b strain has killed more than 570 people this year. The disease has spread across the DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The first European fatality was registered in Sweden.
The mpox virus can spread from animals to humans but also between humans through close physical contact, most often through kissing or sexual contact.
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