The German government announced on Monday 26th August 2024 that it will donate 100,000 doses of Mpox vaccine from its military stockpile to combat the ongoing outbreak on the African continent. This substantial donation aims to address the urgent need for vaccines in affected countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, and neighboring East African nations.
In addition to the vaccine donation, Germany will provide flexible financial resources to the World Health Organization (WHO) through various funding mechanisms. The country will also support African partners via the GAVI Vaccine Alliance to bolster the fight against Mpox.
The German military currently holds around 117,000 doses of Jynneos, a vaccine procured in 2022. The government plans to retain a minimal reserve to safeguard essential personnel, with decisions on future vaccine procurement yet to be made, according to a defense ministry spokesperson.
The WHO declared Mpox a global public health emergency on August 14, following a surge in cases from the DRC to neighboring countries and the emergence of a new, more transmissible virus variant, clade Ib.
Germany's donation follows similar pledges from other nations. The United States has announced it will send 10,000 Mpox vaccine doses to Africa this week, while France has committed 100,000 doses. The European Union and Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic are also coordinating efforts to distribute approximately 200,000 vaccines across Africa.
Austria has also expressed its commitment to aid in the fight against Mpox by donating vaccines, with specific details to be confirmed in coordination with the European Commission.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the urgency of a coordinated global response to contain the outbreak. With over 570 deaths reported this year from the new clade 1b strain of Mpox, the situation remains critical. The virus, which spreads through close contact, including kissing and sexual interactions, has impacted several African countries, with the first European fatality recorded in Sweden.
Germany's foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed that efforts are underway to expedite the delivery of vaccines to the affected regions and to support local vaccine production initiatives in collaboration with the African Union.
