Gavi Purchases 500,000 Mpox Vaccines for Africa
The vaccine alliance Gavi has purchased 500,000 mpox vaccines for delivery to African countries. This initiative targets the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others, where cases are high. Dr. Sania Nishtar, head of Gavi, aims to turn vaccines into vaccinations swiftly and build a global stockpile.
The vaccine alliance Gavi has purchased 500,000 mpox vaccines for delivery to virus-affected African countries this year.
The vaccines, which cost up to fifty million dollars, will be distributed to areas in dire need, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which recently received only 100,000 doses despite having over 700 deaths and 22,000 cases of the new Clade 1b strain.
Neighboring countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya have also reported cases.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, head of Gavi, emphasized the importance of swiftly converting vaccines into vaccinations and eventually building a global vaccine stockpile.
Campaigners are calling for faster vaccine delivery and reduced costs, pointing out that wealthy nations hold large stockpiles of mpox vaccines.
The manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has lauded the move, and Gavi will now focus on securing additional funding for future stockpiling efforts.
The vaccines, which cost up to fifty million dollars, will be distributed to areas in dire need, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which recently received only 100,000 doses despite having over 700 deaths and 22,000 cases of the new Clade 1b strain.
Neighboring countries such as Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya have also reported cases.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, head of Gavi, emphasized the importance of swiftly converting vaccines into vaccinations and eventually building a global vaccine stockpile.
Campaigners are calling for faster vaccine delivery and reduced costs, pointing out that wealthy nations hold large stockpiles of mpox vaccines.
The manufacturer Bavarian Nordic has lauded the move, and Gavi will now focus on securing additional funding for future stockpiling efforts.
