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Gavi's Strategic Move: 500,000 Doses Of Mpox Vaccine For Africa

The global vaccine alliance Gavi has announced it will purchase 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine to combat the outbreak in Africa. The decision marks the group's first acquisition of this vaccine and targets significant health challenges in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 25,000 suspected cases and 723 deaths have been tallied in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, which has declared the situation a global health emergency.

Gavi, leveraging its recent facility developed post-COVID-19, will invest up to $50 million, covering not just the vaccine doses but also transportation, delivery, and administration costs. Although 3.6 million doses have been pledged by richer nations for the DRC, only a fraction has been received. The WHO recently approved the mpox vaccine, heightening expectations for a swift response. The announcement coincided with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria's pledge of $9.5 million to support Congo's emergency response infrastructure.

Bavarian Nordic CEO Paul Chaplin emphasized that this $50 million deal, though lower than past cost estimates, includes comprehensive logistics, making vaccines approximately less than $100 each. The move is expected to markedly increase vaccine availability in African countries. Previously, mpox vaccines were limited to clinical trials within affected African territories despite a global spread in 2022. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar affirmed the priority of converting these doses into effective vaccinations promptly, aiming to form a global stockpile for future needs.

(With inputs from agencies.)

Gavi Orders Million Mpox Vaccine Doses From Bavarian Nordic

Gavi orders million Mpox vaccine doses from Bavarian Nordic

The WHO approved the vaccine for use last Friday.

Gavi's purchase could accelerate the response in Congo and other affected countries.

The deal will significantly increase the availability of the mpox vaccine for African countries.

On Wednesday, Gavi, the global vaccine group, announced it will purchase 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine. This marks Gavi's first acquisition of the vaccine to aid in combating an outbreak in parts of Africa. According to the World Health Organization, Africa has reported over 25,000 suspected mpox cases and 723 deaths in 2024, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO has declared this outbreak a global health emergency.

Gavi, a public-private alliance that co-funds vaccine purchases for low-income countries, announced it will invest up to $50 million in the plan. This amount covers the transportation, delivery, and administration costs of the vaccines. The doses are scheduled for delivery later this year.

The World Health Organization reported that rich nations with stockpiles have already pledged around 3.6 million doses of the mpox vaccine to the DRC, but only a small portion has arrived so far. The WHO approved the vaccine for use last Friday.

Gavi's purchase, made through a new facility established after the COVID-19 pandemic to respond swiftly to public health emergencies, could accelerate the response in Congo and other affected countries.

On Wednesday, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced it will provide $9.5 million to support Congo's emergency response, following a request from the government. This funding will cover surveillance, laboratory systems, and risk communication.

The price of the vaccine remains undisclosed. Gavi's $50 million investment likely equates to less than around $100 per vaccine, as the total includes transportation and logistics. This figure is lower than previous cost estimates.

Gavi chief executive Sania Nishtar said the priority was working with partners "to turn these vaccines into vaccinations as quickly and effectively as possible and, over time, to build a global vaccine stockpile."

Bavarian Nordic Chief Executive Paul Chaplin stated that the deal will significantly increase the availability of the mpox vaccine for African countries. Last week, the company announced it would delay some existing orders to 2025, due to US government contracts, in order to prioritize current market needs.

Mpox, which spreads through close contact and typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, has been a public health issue in parts of Africa for decades. However, vaccines have never been available outside clinical trials in affected African countries. This remained the case even after a different strain of the virus spread globally in 2022, with high-income countries using vaccines to help control the outbreak.

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India Faces Challenges In Disease Surveillance, Urges Preparation Amid Nipah And TB Concerns

New Delhi [India], September 17 (ANI) - The recent death from Nipah virus in Kerala, the second since July, has heightened concerns about potential outbreaks across India, emphasizing the necessity for robust surveillance systems. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at WHO, highlighted the importance of state-level preparedness against diseases like Nipah, Monkeypox, and Tuberculosis.

Swaminathan, now the Principal Adviser at the Union Health Ministry for the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), told ANI that Monkeypox, though not endemic in India, requires vigilance due to international travel. She mentioned that the nation's ports have strengthened surveillance and are well-prepared with isolation facilities. Monkeypox is largely managed through close contact precautions and public awareness.

She stressed the need for improved systems to manage small outbreaks, as seen in recent cases in Gujarat and Kerala. Swaminathan underscored the significance of a well-trained workforce and the 'One Health' approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health surveillance. She also emphasized on animal immunization research and international cooperation for vaccine development, noting India's large tuberculosis burden and the impact of COVID-19 on TB control efforts.

Despite setbacks from the pandemic, Swaminathan expressed optimism about India's progress in tuberculosis detection and cure rates. She called for significant investment in TB vaccine research, citing historical successes with vaccines in eradicating infectious diseases. The commitment from Prime Minister Modi and ongoing efforts by Indian companies and research centers aim to advance TB vaccine development within the next decade.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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