African states are expected to start vaccinations against mpox in ‘a few days’, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Jean Kaseya told reporters on 20 August.

Last week, the WHO and Africa CDC declared mpox a public emergency. Over 1,800 new cases of the virus were confirmed last week. 

Although Kaseya said that Bavarian Nordic, currently the only global manufacturer of mpox vaccines, is in talks with Africa CDC to agree a technology transfer allowing vaccines to be made in Africa, this is not something that can be done overnight. Kaseya estimates that 10m vaccines will be required by the end of 2025.

Until mass production can start, it remains reliant on donations from Bavarian Nordic and the international community, particularly Europe, which has promised over 200,000 doses.

The mpox virus – which now affects at least a dozen African states – should intensify African efforts to develop the conditions for manufacturing capacity.

Testing and scientific research on mpox, particularly the severity of its various strains is also very limited. The EU, in particular, was bruised by the charges of ‘vaccine nationalism’ levelled by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and others during the Covid pandemic. On 20 August, the European Commission’s Health Security Committee ruled out imposing border controls and travel bans to control the virus.