In a statement on Wednesday, the EU announced that the donation includes 175,420 doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) Mpox vaccine, with an additional 40,000 doses provided by the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic.
The MVA-BN vaccine, a non-replicating smallpox vaccine, is the only Mpox vaccine approved in the EU and is authorized for use in individuals aged 18 and older.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) will manage the distribution of these vaccines to affected countries, prioritizing regions based on need.
In addition to the vaccine donation, the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is working with Africa CDC to enhance Mpox diagnostics and sequencing capabilities in the region, supported by a €3.5 million grant set to be deployed by early autumn.
EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, highlighted the importance of global collaboration during health crises.
She said, “Strong global partnerships are at the heart of our European Health Union. Health security threats know no borders, and today, through the collaboration between the European Commission, Africa Centres for Disease Control, and Bavarian Nordic, we are providing 215,000 vaccines to protect the most vulnerable in countries affected by the Mpox outbreak in Africa. Preparedness and response to health threats is a global endeavor that we are committed to pursuing collectively and with solidarity across borders.”
Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, expressed gratitude for the swift support, stating, “The donation of over 215,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic is a critical step in our fight against this crisis.
“This partnership not only delivers essential vaccines but also highlights our shared commitment to protecting health across Africa. It exemplifies the power of international collaboration in addressing public health emergencies. Together, we will strengthen our response efforts and ensure that communities across the continent receive the protection they need.”
Recently, the Africa CDC declared Mpox a “public health emergency of continental security” as the virus has spread across multiple countries.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 13,700 cases and 450 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with additional cases in Burundi, Central African Republic, Kenya, and Rwanda.