The Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, has announced an agreement with Bavarian Nordic to secure 500,000 doses of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) mpox vaccine for Africa in 2024.
This comes as part of a proactive effort to address the ongoing monkeypox outbreak in the region.
The vaccine supply will be funded through Gavi’s First Response Fund, established earlier this year to rapidly respond to health emergencies.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, by the 35th week of 2024, 26,544 cases of mpox had been reported across 15 African Union countries, resulting in 724 deaths.
The MVA-BN vaccine was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) on September 13, allowing for swift delivery once a supply agreement with UNICEF is finalized.
Gavi’s CEO, Dr. Sania Nishtar, emphasized the importance of the First Response Fund in ensuring rapid access to vaccines for those most vulnerable.
This agreement marks a significant step toward equitable vaccine distribution in Africa.
Bavarian Nordic, a long-time supplier of the vaccine, has committed to ensuring the availability of doses, building on its role during the 2022 global mpox outbreak.
Gavi also plans to create a global vaccine stockpile and is working with partners to bolster vaccine manufacturing capabilities on the continent, aiming for a more sustainable response to future outbreaks.
