WHO Coordinates Targeted Vaccine Distribution for African Mpox Outbreak

The World Health Organization has orchestrated the allocation of 899,000 vaccine doses to combat the rising mpox surge across nine African nations. This initiative follows the organization’s second declaration of a global public health emergency in August, prompted by the spread of a new virus variant from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The distribution plan prioritizes the most affected regions, with the Democratic Republic of Congo receiving 85 percent of allocated doses due to its status as the epicenter of the outbreak. Other recipient nations include the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.

This coordinated response comes after WHO’s approval of Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine and consideration of additional options from other manufacturers. The organization has implemented a scheme similar to COVID-19 protocols to ensure vulnerable populations in low-income countries receive necessary medical resources.

The vaccine supplies originate from multiple international donors, including European countries, the United States, Canada, and the public-private alliance Gavi. This distribution addresses a critical need, as Africa has reported over 46,000 confirmed and suspected mpox cases this year, resulting in more than 1,000 fatalities.

initiative represents a significant step in addressing the continent’s public health challenges through international cooperation and resource sharing.