U.S. Donates 10,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses to Africa as New Variant Sparks Alarm

Africa will finally receive its first batch of mpox vaccines this week, with 10,000 doses donated by the U.S. The vaccines aim to combat a new variant of the virus, previously known as monkeypox, which has caused global concern since a 2022 outbreak.

While over 70 countries have already accessed the vaccines, Africa’s delayed access highlights serious flaws in the international response to health emergencies, according to health officials and scientists.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency on August 14, following the variant’s spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to neighboring nations.

Despite mpox affecting the continent for years, the WHO only began the process for vaccine distribution this month, forcing African governments to rely on donations from wealthier countries. Experts warn that Africa may need up to 10 million doses to manage the outbreak effectively.