The United States has pledged to donate 1 million doses of the Mpox vaccines to African countries battling a recent surge in cases. President Joe Biden made the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, urging other nations to join the effort.
This commitment comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Mpox outbreak as a global health emergency for the second time in two years. The current outbreak, first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spread to neighboring nations such as Uganda and as far as India.
While Mpox is usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions. This donation aims to address the significant vaccine shortage in Africa, where existing supplies fall drastically short of the need.
The U.S. is expected to donate doses of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine, known as Jynneos in the United States, mainly from its stockpile. The administration plans to work with Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, to ensure the equitable distribution of these doses to countries in need.
Beyond this immediate donation, the Biden administration is advocating for increased vaccine manufacturing capacity in low and middle-income countries. Currently, there are no facilities in Africa equipped to produce the complex drug substance necessary for the vaccine.
The U.S. is collaborating with Brazil to determine how the G20 can support the global Mpox response. Experts believe that transferring technology to allow for local vaccine production is crucial for long-term solutions. And there approval process to be softened and quickened unlike other vaccines.
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Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert at Georgetown University, praised Biden’s support for boosting manufacturing capacity in lower-income nations. And these Mpox vaccines are to help boost the fight of Mpox in African countries like DR Congo, Uganda and the rest.
