The global vaccine group Gavi is set to purchase 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine to combat an outbreak in Africa. With over 25,000 suspected cases and 723 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization has declared it a global health emergency. Gavi plans to invest up to $50 million in the initiative, covering transportation, delivery, and administration costs. This rapid response aims to address the urgent situation in Congo and other affected countries.
Rich nations have already pledged 3.6 million doses of the mpox vaccine to the DRC, but only a small fraction has been delivered. With Gavi’s new facility established post-Covid-19, the purchase will accelerate the response in the region. The Global Fund will also provide $9.5 million to support Congo’s emergency efforts as requested by the government.
Bavarian Nordic’s CEO noted that this deal will increase vaccine availability in Africa significantly. Despite mpox being a long-standing public health concern in Africa, vaccines were previously limited to clinical trials. This purchase marks a significant step towards addressing the outbreak effectively.
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