Gavi to stockpile Mpox vaccines amid Africa outbreak

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has unveiled plans to create a global stockpile of Mpox vaccines in response to a recent outbreak of the zoonotic virus in Africa.

The new stockpile, according to Gavi will be modeled after their existing reserves for cholera, Ebola, meningitis, and yellow fever vaccines.

"Establishment of a stockpile is pending the availability of World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing or prequalification of a recommended vaccine, and subject to fundraising for Gavi's next strategic period," reads a statement by Gavi.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared Mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.

The decision came after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighbouring African countries.

In the past month, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have all reported their first cases of Mpox.

During the first week of August alone, the Democratic Republic of Congo reported nearly 2,400 suspected infections and 56 deaths.

Kenya's first case of the disease was detected at the Taveta border point.

Authorities said the person who tested positive for the virus, travelled through the county along the Kenyan-Tanzanian border.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is endemic to forested areas of East, Central, and West Africa.

Going further, Gavi said the goal will be to ensure the design of the stockpile is informed by a robust assessment of the long-term public health need.

"In the interim, Gavi will support outbreak response in the DRC and surrounding countries," it said.

The vaccine alliance also highlighted that it will invest in a learning agenda to enhance the current response and improve future vaccination efforts against Mpox.

This includes the development of a global stockpile.

Gavi remains deeply concerned about the escalating Mpox crisis in Africa and supports the recent measures introduced by the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO.

These measures aim to foster a comprehensive, region-led response.

Gavi emphasises the need for international coordination, aligning with the African CDC's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the WHO's designation of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

In addition, Gavi said it has been closely monitoring the Mpox situation since 2022, working in collaboration with countries and partners.

"As a result, considerations related to Mpox have helped inform both the design of Gavi's new innovative health security mechanisms, aimed at addressing systemic gaps exposed during the Covid-19 vaccine response, as well as Gavi's next five-year strategy," it said.

Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth on Monday said Kenya was ramping up its preparedness and response to Mpox.

Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Amoth highlighted the critical importance of early intervention to prevent a wider outbreak.

"Taking action now is essential to protect our population and prevent a potential outbreak," Amoth told a stakeholders meeting.

Despite only one confirmed case in Kenya, the surge in Mpox cases across other parts of Africa has prompted calls for heightened vigilance.

Virus symptoms include high fever, a rash which may last for two to four weeks, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and general body aches.

According to WHO, the virus can spread through direct contact with a sick person, through respiratory droplets and sexual intercourse.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1,450 people have died of Mpox across 15 African countries since the start of 2022.