Germany to Donate 100,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses to Africa Amid Growing Outbreak

Germany has pledged to donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from its military stockpiles to help combat the escalating outbreak of the virus on the African continent, a government spokesperson announced on Monday. This donation is part of Germany’s broader efforts to support affected countries and contain the spread of the virus in the short term.

The German government will collaborate with the World Health Organization (WHO) by providing flexible financial resources through various instruments to tackle the mpox outbreak. Additionally, Germany will support its African partners through the GAVI vaccination alliance, ensuring that the necessary vaccines and resources are available where they are needed most.

Germany’s military currently holds around 117,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which were stockpiled after Berlin procured them in 2022. According to a spokesperson from the defence ministry, Germany will retain a minimal amount of these doses to protect officials who travel to affected areas. Any decision regarding the reordering of vaccines will be made separately, depending on future needs and developments.

The WHO has declared mpox a global public health emergency, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has since spread to neighboring countries. The emergence of a new variant of the virus, known as clade Ib, has raised concerns about the speed and potential severity of transmission.

Germany’s donation is aimed at swiftly delivering the vaccines to the countries most affected by the outbreak, particularly the DRC, as well as Burundi and other neighboring nations in East Africa. The German government is currently exploring the fastest and most efficient ways to ensure that these vaccines reach the affected regions as soon as possible, according to a spokesperson from the foreign ministry.

This donation underscores Germany’s commitment to global health and its support for international efforts to curb the spread of mpox. The rapid response from Germany and other international partners will be crucial in preventing further spread of the virus and mitigating its impact on the affected populations in Africa.