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Tag: Mpox vaccine

  • WHO allocates 899,000 mpox vaccines to Nigeria, 8 African countries amid surges 

    WHO allocates 899,000 mpox vaccines to Nigeria, 8 African countries amid surges 

    An initial 899,000 vaccine doses have been allocated to Nigeria and 8 other countries across Africa that have been hit hard by the current mpox surge, the WHO and other health organizations said on Wednesday.

    The newly allocated vaccines will go to the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.

    “The largest number of doses – 85% of the allocated vaccines – will go to the Democratic Republic of Congo as the most affected country,” global health agency said.
    The allocated vaccines are provided by Canada, Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), the United States, and the European Union, including countries like France, Germany, Spain, and others, along with the EU’s Health Emergency Response Authority.

    The global health agency said this allocation to the 9 countries marks a significant step towards a coordinated and targeted deployment of vaccines to stop the mpox outbreaks.

    “For most countries, the rollout of mpox vaccines will be a new undertaking. Implementing targeted vaccination requires additional resources,” the statement reads.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak, driven largely by a surge of the clade Ib viral strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in August.

    According to the latest WHO figures, opens new tab, there have been more than 46,000 confirmed and suspected cases of mpox in Africa this year, and more than 1,000 deaths in the continent due to viral illness.

    “This year, 19 countries in Africa have reported mpox, many of them newly affected by the viral disease,” it reports.

    Emphasizing on expand protection, the global health agency noted that to protect more people at risk in affected communities, additional doses of vaccine are available.

    “It targets individuals at high risk of severe disease based on local epidemiology in affected areas, focusing on regions with the highest incidence of mpox.

    “Special attention will be given to vulnerable populations, including those living with HIV, internally displaced persons, and refugees, due to their increased risk of severe outcomes,” WHO said.

    Vaccine availability
    Over 5.85 million vaccine doses are expected to be available to the Mpox Vaccines Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) by the end of 2024, including the nearly 900 000 allocated doses.

    The supply includes contributions from multiple nations and organizations, including 1.85 million dose donations of MVA-BN from the European Union, United States, and Canada, 500 000 doses of MVA-BN from Gavi utilizing the First Response Fund, 500 000 doses procured through UNICEF, as well as a further 3 million doses of the LC16 vaccine from Japan.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • WHO, Africa CDC support mpox vaccination in Nigeria, 16 other African countries amid short supply

    WHO, Africa CDC support mpox vaccination in Nigeria, 16 other African countries amid short supply

    Nigeria, along with 16 other African countries, to receive support from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance mpox vaccine preparedness amid a shortage of supplies.

    Experts from both organizations have pledged to support the development of targeted mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans to ensure the efficient use of available doses.

    This commitment was made during a meeting last week in Brazzaville, where country representatives and partners convened to discuss the way forward.
    In a statement on Sunday, the Africa CDC noted that, in anticipation of further mpox vaccine deliveries to the African region in the coming months, countries have requested assistance in identifying and mapping mpox hotspots based on local epidemiology, as well as in planning targeted vaccination strategies to reach populations at risk.

    More than 120 participants from 17 countries, along with partners from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and with support from Canada, took part in the Regional Mpox Vaccine Preparedness and Deployment Plan Development meeting held from November 5-7, 2024.
    “During the meeting, WHO and Africa CDC experts provided countries with the latest information on WHO recommendations and a set of tools to guide mpox vaccination plan development.

    “Both organizations have made concerted efforts to help countries acquire vaccines amid ongoing outbreaks. The WHO added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification list on September 13, 2024, and established an Access and Allocation Mechanism to improve access to vaccines, treatments, and tests where they are most needed,” the statement added.

    The regional meeting focused on providing support to the following countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Ghana.
    Other countries included Guinea, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
    Urgency of targeted vaccine deployment
    “Given the ongoing difficulties with bringing the outbreak under control using traditional public health measures, the need for effective mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans has become urgent.

    “With the mpox vaccine supply constraints, countries will need to develop very targeted deployment plans, guided by local epidemiology,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

    Progress amid limited vaccine supply
    Mpox vaccine deployments in Africa have faced delays, and supply is expected to remain limited in the near- to medium-term.
    However, three countries in the region—Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria—recently received a total of 280,000 doses. Initial vaccination efforts have begun in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, with over 50,000 doses already administered.
    Commending collaborative efforts
    Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, praised the rapid and coordinated efforts across the continent, saying, “The swift actions of countries across Africa to roll out targeted mpox vaccination strategies reflect an extraordinary commitment to protecting those most vulnerable. Achieving this progress within a short window of time underscores the ambition and resilience of our member states to halt transmission and safeguard at-risk populations.

    “This momentum speaks to the power of collaboration across the continent and with our global partners. Africa CDC remains unwavering in its support, equipping countries with essential tools, guidance, and resources to drive impactful progress in controlling mpox.”

    Continued support and rising cases
    The statement emphasized that the WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners are working together in the Continental Incident Management Support Team to help countries prepare for and respond to mpox outbreaks, not only through vaccination but also in diagnostics, case management, risk communication, and community engagement.
    “The collaboration between agencies comes at a critical time, as mpox cases continue to rise on the continent, and new cases are reported outside Africa. As of November 6, over 11,000 laboratory-confirmed cases had been reported since the start of 2024. Four countries (South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon) moved to the ‘controlled phase’ in October 2024 after reporting no new cases for six weeks. Fourteen other countries are currently experiencing active outbreaks in Africa,” the statement concluded.