Germany has provided 100,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine from its armed forces to help combat the ongoing outbreak in Africa, a government spokesperson said.
This contribution is expected to bring swift relief to the continent and support the countries battling the virus. In addition to the vaccine donation, Germany will offer the WHO flexible human resources and financial support through various arrangements in the fight against Mpox. The German government will also assist African nations through the GAVI vaccine alliance, as part of its partnership with the continent.
Germany has approximately 117,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine in its military supply, which were purchased in 2022. Some of these doses will be reserved for the protection of officers traveling to different stations, as confirmed by a defense ministry spokesperson on Monday.
The spokesperson also indicated that any further decisions regarding restocking vaccines would require additional discussions.
Mpox has been declared a global public health emergency by the WHO, particularly after an outbreak was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and subsequently spread to neighboring countries. The new variant of the virus, specifically Clade Ib, is of particular concern to experts due to its rapid propagation.
The German government is also seeking the quickest way to deliver the vaccines to the affected regions, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and other East African nations, according to a foreign ministry official.