Bavarian Sells 500,000 mpox vaccines for Africa use

Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic has struck a deal to deliver 500,000 doses of its mpox vaccine to African countries, set to be delivered in 2024. Gavi, the vaccine alliance, facilitated the agreement though the price remains undisclosed. The vaccines are funded by Gavi’s ‘First Response Fund’, designed to ensure rapid vaccine access in health crises. Bavarian CEO Paul Chaplin emphasized the significant increase in vaccine availability for African nations. The World Health Organization declared a global health crisis for the second time in two years in August due to mpox outbreaks, following the spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to neighboring countries. Africa has seen over 25,000 mpox infections and 723 deaths this year, mostly affecting children under 15. Mpox typically presents with flu-like symptoms and can be transmitted via close contact.