In response to the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, Germany has committed to donating 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from its military reserves. A government spokesperson announced on Monday that this donation is intended to help contain the outbreak on the continent in the short term and provide crucial support to the affected countries.
The donated vaccines are part of Germany’s stockpile of 117,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which the German army procured in 2022. While the majority of the stock will be donated, a small amount will be retained to protect traveling officials and for other necessary contingencies. Any decisions on reordering the vaccine will be made separately, according to a defense ministry spokesperson.
In addition to the vaccine donation, Germany plans to support the World Health Organisation (WHO) with flexible financial resources and aid African partners through the GAVI vaccination alliance. The aim is to enhance efforts to combat the spread of mpox, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the outbreak originated, and in neighboring countries such as Burundi and other East African nations.
The WHO has declared mpox a global public health emergency, particularly after a new, rapidly spreading strain of the virus, clade Ib, was identified. Germany is working with the WHO and other international partners to ensure the vaccines reach the affected regions as swiftly as possible.
This move underscores Germany’s commitment to global health security and its role in addressing urgent public health crises, particularly in regions with limited access to necessary resources.
Melissa Enoch
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