Mpox Vaccine Delivery to Africa Faces hurdles, Despite Pledges
DAKAR, Senegal – A year after the Africa Centres for disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security, promised vaccine deliveries from the United States are stalled, hindering containment efforts, according to a recent report by NPR’s Goats and Soda. The delay is largely due to logistical challenges and the high cost of the vaccine – $100 per dose – making widespread distribution difficult.
Yap boum II, deputy head of Africa CDC’s mpox response, expressed concern over the halted shipments, stating, “They can no longer be sent to the continent, which is a huge loss.”
Despite these setbacks, there are signs of progress. Kenya is slated to begin an mpox vaccination campaign in early September, a growth eagerly anticipated by the public, according to a local nurse identified as Mugun.
The U.S. State Department stated it plans to provide over 200,000 mpox vaccine doses to five African countries and ensure effective utilization. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. department of Health and Human Services did not respond to NPR’s requests for comment regarding the initial pledge.experts are divided on the impact of the response thus far.Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of Africa CDC, emphasizes the significant capacity building that has occurred. A year ago, no African country had approved the mpox vaccine; now, 17 have.Laboratory testing capacity has also expanded dramatically, with Burundi increasing its testing labs from two to 56 in the past year. Kaseya argues the emergency declaration itself facilitated the pledged resources.
However, Dr. Titianji of Emory University worries the limited response could diminish the credibility of the World Health Association’s alert system and the Africa CDC’s emergency declarations. She cautioned that the virus will evolve with increased opportunities for transmission.
Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, warned that the U.S. may not remain unaffected.”Diseases we ignore abroad can quickly land on our doorstep,” she said. “We’ve been lucky so far. I don’t know how long our luck will hold out.”
