Germany announced on Monday that it will donate 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to African countries dealing with severe outbreaks of the virus.
The vaccines will come from Germany’s military stockpile and aim to help control the mpox outbreak and support affected countries in managing the crisis.
A government spokesperson said this donation is part of Germany’s broader strategy to assist the World Health Organization in fighting the spread of mpox.
In addition to the vaccines, Germany plans to provide the WHO with flexible financial resources and support its partners in Africa through the GAVI vaccination alliance, further emphasizing its commitment to global health.
Germany currently has about 117,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which were procured in 2022 and are stored by the German army.
The defense ministry stated that a small reserve of vaccines will be kept to protect officials and personnel traveling abroad. Decisions on whether to reorder vaccines will depend on future needs.
The WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency following a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has since spread to neighboring countries. A new variant of the virus, known as clade Ib, has raised concerns due to its rapid spread.
Germany’s donation will primarily focus on the DRC, with additional shipments planned for Burundi and other neighboring countries in East Africa, where the outbreak has also taken hold.
The mpox crisis has been worsened by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Sudan, where deteriorating conditions have led to an increase in cholera infections, with nearly 600 cases reported since July.
