On Thursday, a crucial shipment of approximately 100,000 mpox vaccine doses arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the first delivery of the vaccine to the country. This initial delivery is part of a larger commitment by the European Commission to provide 215,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine to affected African nations. A second shipment of roughly 100,000 doses is expected in the coming days.
The MVA-BN vaccine, developed by Bavarian Nordic, is a non-replicating smallpox vaccine. It is the only mpox vaccine currently approved by the European Union, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland.
Beyond the European Commission’s contribution, an additional 351,500 doses from several European countries, including France, Germany, and Spain, will be donated to the Africa CDC for distribution to affected nations. This collective effort brings the total vaccine doses donated from Europe to at least 566,500.
However, the arrival of these vaccines in Congo comes more than 18 months after the country declared the situation an epidemic. The reasons for this delayed distribution are complex and multifaceted.
As of June 27, Congo’s regulatory body had not approved mpox vaccines for use. Furthermore, subsequent donations from the United States have been held up as the Congolese government finalizes pre-shipment requirements, including proper vaccine storage and handling.
Many low- and middle-income countries rely on the World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccine evaluations. However, the WHO has not yet approved any mpox vaccines, despite their authorization by U.S. and European health authorities during the global mpox outbreak in 2022. The lack of WHO approval is due to the relatively new nature of these vaccines and the ongoing need for further research, particularly regarding their effectiveness against the specific mpox strain circulating in Congo.
The challenges encountered in providing mpox vaccines to Congo mirror the difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where vaccine access for lower-income nations was severely restricted. This disparity highlights the urgent need for equitable vaccine distribution and access across the globe to effectively address public health crises.
