The first shipments of mpox vaccines, donated by Western countries, have finally arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after months of logistical delays. The country is currently at the center of a new mpox outbreak, prompting the World Health Organization to issue its highest alert level. With over 20,000 reported cases and more than 500 deaths in 2024, the virus has also spread to 13 other African nations, as well as some countries in Europe and Asia.
Unfortunately, neither the DRC nor other African nations have the capacity to produce the vaccines needed to combat the outbreak. Instead, they have had to rely on promised donations from abroad. Japan and Denmark are the only countries with manufacturers of the mpox vaccine, with Japan facing administrative delays in delivering promised doses to the DRC in August.
Recently, the European Union donated 99,000 doses to the DRC, followed by the United States delivering 50,000 doses from Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic. The DRC, with a population of approximately 100 million people, plans to distribute the vaccines in the worst affected regions of South Kivu and Equateur.
The challenges faced by the DRC in obtaining vaccines mirror the struggles of many African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rich nations secured vaccine supplies for their populations while African countries had to rely on subsidized shipments that were slow to arrive. The concept of “vaccine nationalism” was criticized by experts, emphasizing the need for a global response to combat the spread of viruses across borders.
To address the issue of vaccine production in Africa, some countries have begun to invest in local manufacturing capabilities. However, financial and technical challenges remain significant obstacles. Efforts are being made to increase production capacity and establish partnerships with other manufacturers to improve vaccine availability on the continent.
Overall, the inequities in the global vaccine market have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for greater collaboration and support for African countries to enhance their vaccine production capabilities.