Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, has announced plans to acquire 500,000 doses of the mpox vaccine, targeting the increasing outbreaks of the disease particularly afflicting several African nations, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo being the most severely impacted.
On September 18, Gavi confirmed the purchase of these doses, manufactured by Danish biotech firm Bavarian Nordic. This shipment is set to take place within the year, though the specific dates of delivery remain undisclosed. Gavi indicated the overall financial requirement for this initiative will total around $50 million, which includes the vaccine’s transportation, delivery, and administration costs. This funding will come from the First Response Fund, which Gavi established to facilitate rapid vaccine acquisition during health emergencies, and is reportedly valued at $500 million.
Since the onset of 2024, the global health emergency surrounding mpox has escalated remarkably, with more than 25,000 confirmed cases and around 723 deaths, most of which are concentrated within Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the situation as a global health emergency, prompting immediate action from organizations like Gavi.
The mpox outbreak is not new, but its resurgence this year can be attributed to new mutations of the virus, necessitating quicker access to vaccines. Gavi's recent acquisition agreement aims to significantly cover the emergency demand for vaccines. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo claims to require approximately 3 million doses to fully combat the outbreak, it has only received 250,000 doses donated by the European Union and the United States so far. With the new order from Gavi, efforts are ramping up to mitigate this crisis.
Following this announcement, Gavi's CEO Sania Nishtar conveyed optimism by stating, “Using it [the First Response Fund] today to fund the first direct transaction for vaccines in support of equitable access and the global response... takes us a long way toward our goal of protecting those most at risk.” This sentiment echoes across health organizations indicating the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations.
The distribution of the mpox vaccine is particularly strategic. According to Cris Kacita Osako, coordinator of the Monkeypox Response Committee, vaccination efforts are set to commence on October 2 for provincial areas severely affected, including Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru. Priority will be extended to adults initially, especially individuals who’ve had close contact with confirmed cases and sex workers.
While the urgency for these vaccinations intensifies, concerns persist about the limited supply chain. Currently, there exists only one manufacturer of the mpox vaccine, which could hamper broader distribution plans. To assist with coordination and distribution, Gavi is collaborating with UNICEF, the latter being engaged for the efficient facilitation of vaccine delivery.
This recent purchase by Gavi is the first direct transaction from the First Response Fund, launched less than two months post WHO's declaration of mpox as a public health emergency. This initial step marks the beginning of what global health authorities hope to be continued efforts to secure larger vaccine stocks for future health crises.
The WHO has enacted measures to expedite vaccine professionalization and usage, including prequalifying the mpox vaccine on September 13. This move has made room for partner organizations such as Gavi and UNICEF to engage more effectively with vaccine procurement strategies. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, has also reflected on the significance of these approvals, urging necessary actions to increase equitable vaccination access.
With Gavi's initiatives, combined with the World Health Organization's layers of oversight and commitment to high-risk populations, there’s renewed hope for management of mpox outbreaks. Yet, the scenario remains tense as experts continuously monitor the situation, considering the rapid evolution of the virus and potential global health threats it can present.
The global community can hope for more extensive vaccine collaboration as additional pledges surface from nations like Japan, which has committed 3 million shots from alternative manufacturers, augmenting Gavi's recent initiatives. The total number of vaccine pledges for addressing the current mpox crisis now stands significantly over 4.1 million doses—numbers driven largely by the urgency of combating the outbreak and addressing public health needs.
Overall, Gavi’s new acquisition marks both immediate announcement and proactive measures taken to stabilize and possibly diminish the devastation wrought by the mpox virus as health agencies unite to tackle what has already manifested as potentially catastrophic health emergencies across multiple nations.
