Global vaccine alliance Gavi announced on Wednesday that it will buy 500,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine to combat the ongoing outbreak in Africa. This is Gavi’s first procurement of the vaccine, with plans to spend up to $50 million on the doses, including transportation and administration costs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, with over 25,000 suspected cases and 723 deaths reported in 2024, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite pledges of 3.6 million vaccine doses from wealthy nations, only a small portion has arrived so far.
Gavi’s purchase is part of a new emergency response facility established post-COVID-19 and aims to accelerate vaccine availability in affected regions. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria also announced $9.5 million in support for Congo’s emergency response, covering surveillance and laboratory systems.
Gavi’s investment suggests a cost of less than $100 per dose, including logistics, lower than previous estimates. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar emphasized the goal of transforming vaccine supply into effective vaccinations and building a global stockpile over time.
Bavarian Nordic’s CEO, Paul Chaplin, noted that this deal will significantly boost vaccine availability in Africa. Historically, mpox vaccines have been unavailable outside clinical trials in Africa, despite a global outbreak in 2022.
