In a significant boost to the fight against the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, nearly 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine, provided by the European Union (EU), are set to arrive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday. This shipment marks the first delivery of the vaccine to the country, according to a statement from the European Commission.
In addition to the EU’s contribution, a further 351,500 doses from France, Germany, Spain, Malta, Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, Austria, Poland, and potentially other member states will be provided to Africa CDC, the autonomous health agency of the African Union. These doses are destined for distribution to countries grappling with the outbreak.
The total number of vaccine doses provided by “Team Europe” now stands at a minimum of 566,500. This extensive support underscores the EU’s commitment to global health solidarity.
Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, emphasized the importance of international cooperation. “We know, following the COVID-19 pandemic, that we can only combat health threats like mpox by working in partnership and showing global solidarity across borders,” Kyriakides stated in the announcement.
The EU's initiative comes as part of a broader effort to address and mitigate the impact of mpox, reflecting a growing international response to emerging health threats.