The World Health Organization announced on Friday that nearly one million doses of mpox vaccines have been allocated to nine African countries. This follows the creation of an Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) last month to ensure equitable access to the vaccines.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that over 50,000 individuals have already been vaccinated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, thanks to donations from the U.S. and the European Commission.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 500 percent increase in mpox cases compared to last year, now affecting 19 countries. The WHO declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August after a new strain began spreading from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stated that the allocation of approximately 900,000 doses was based on public health needs, especially in areas with significant transmission. He emphasized that this is the first allocation of nearly six million doses expected to be available by the end of 2024.
While vaccination is a critical component, he highlighted the importance of other strategies, including case finding, contact tracing, infection prevention, clinical care, risk communication, and testing, as part of a comprehensive response plan.