As Africa battles the lingering threat of mpox, a life-saving shipment of vaccines arrives Abuja, Nigeria, hopefully just in time to turn the tide.
On December 20, 2024, Nigeria received its first shipment of mpox vaccines, with 11,200 doses arriving in Abuja. This delivery is part of a broader initiative led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to combat the mpox outbreak, which continues to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The vaccines, donated by the United States and manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, are among the 305,000 doses the U.S. has pledged through Gavi to support the global response to mpox. These doses have been allocated to affected countries via the Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) for mpox, a collaborative effort involving the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, expressed gratitude for the U.S. donation, stating, “We thank the US for these donations, which substantially strengthen the global mpox response.” She emphasized that, in addition to the 500,000 doses Gavi procured in September through their First Response Fund, legal frameworks are now in place to facilitate the distribution of additional pledged doses. Gavi is committed to working with partners to ensure these vaccines are rolled out swiftly.
The U.S. government’s commitment to providing over a million mpox vaccines to international communities underscores the importance of global collaboration in addressing viral outbreaks. Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), remarked, “Viruses don’t respect borders, and both international and domestic mpox coordination remains a top priority for ASPR.”
In addition to facilitating vaccine donations, Gavi has provided emergency funding to support vaccine roll-out efforts in various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. The organization plans to use its First Response Fund to cover delivery costs for the doses it procures or facilitates, ensuring efficient distribution to the nations most affected by the mpox outbreak.
The arrival of these vaccines in Nigeria could mark a significant step in the country’s efforts to curb the spread of mpox and protect public health. As the global community continues to respond to this health emergency, experts describe coordinated efforts and timely vaccine distributions as crucial in mitigating the impact of the outbreak.