African public health officials are working hard to prevent the same mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic as they tackle a deadly mpox outbreak. A key concern is the slow process of getting vaccines to the continent.
The World Health Organisation recently declared the outbreak an international health emergency, prompting efforts to bring vaccines to Africa. These vaccines should arrive next week, and plans are in place to ensure they are distributed effectively.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), emphasised the importance of a robust supply chain to manage the incoming vaccines.
Mpox has been present in Africa since the 1970s, but despite being endemic to the region, Africa did not receive vaccines in 2022 when the disease spread globally. This situation mirrors the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when Africa struggled to obtain vaccines.
A lack of local vaccine production has been a significant issue, leaving Africa dependent on imports. The Africa CDC is now in discussions to develop local manufacturing capabilities, ensuring better preparedness for future outbreaks.
Bavarian Nordic, a Danish company with an approved mpox vaccine, is in talks with Africa CDC to provide vaccines while helping African manufacturers produce them locally, which could lower costs and improve access.
However, the vaccines are expensive, costing around $100 per dose, which is unaffordable for many African countries. Despite the high costs, there is a push to prioritise high-risk populations and those in contact with the disease.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been particularly hard-hit, recording most of the new mpox cases in Africa. Health officials stress the need for vaccine acceptance to stop the outbreak and save lives.
The situation highlights the urgent need for Africa to secure vaccine supplies and improve local production to avoid future delays in responding to health emergencies.