Africa gets new mpox vaccine lifeline as global stockpile launches

A global stockpile of mpox vaccines has been launched in a move aimed at preventing a repeat of the shortages and inequalities that left poorer countries struggling to protect their populations during previous outbreaks.

The initiative, launched on 27 August, is particularly significant for Africa, which accounts for about two-thirds of reported mpox cases globally. The new reserve is expected to begin operations later this month, giving countries access to vaccines during outbreaks without waiting for doses to be secured after an emergency has escalated.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the launch marked “an important step towards a more sustainable and equitable approach to mpox outbreak response”.

“By establishing a dedicated global stockpile, using an approach that has proven successful for managing other emergency vaccines, we are ensuring that countries can access them more quickly when they need them, saving lives and containing outbreaks before they spread further,” he added.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, said mpox could be particularly devastating for children, not only because of its physical effects but also because of the stigma, interrupted learning and fear that can accompany isolation from family and friends.

“This vital initiative will help us quickly get vaccines to the children, families, and communities most at risk of the disease,” she said.

Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), welcomed the development, saying access to vaccines for all those who need them was “absolutely vital”.

ALSO READ: WHO African ministers endorse 10-year strategy to improve medical product regulation

“That’s why this global coordination mechanism and vaccine stockpile matter. Both will help ensure vaccines reach the people and communities at greatest risk – when and where they are needed most. This is rare good news,” he said.

The development comes as mpox continues to spread in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where governments face the additional challenge of animal-to-human transmission alongside person-to-person spread.

Between January 2022 and 31 July 2026, 145 countries and territories reported 190,683 confirmed mpox cases and 529 deaths.

For African health authorities, the stockpile could help address one of the most persistent problems in the global response to infectious diseases: those facing the greatest burden are often among the last to receive the tools needed to control it.

During the 2022 mpox outbreak, lower-income countries struggled to obtain vaccines as wealthier nations moved to secure limited supplies.

The new stockpile is funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and will be coordinated by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. The ICG comprises the IFRC, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation.

The mechanism builds on an allocation system established in 2024 during the previous mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern to ensure countries can access vaccines more quickly and equitably during outbreaks.

Mpox is primarily spread through close physical contact, including sexual contact. In parts of Africa, however, animal-to-human transmission continues to pose a threat, creating opportunities for new outbreaks and complicating efforts to contain the disease.

The illness can be particularly severe in children and people with suppressed immune systems. Its impact can also extend beyond the disease itself, contributing to stigma, isolation and interrupted schooling, while placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.

For Africa, where the majority of reported global mpox cases continue to occur, the significance of the new stockpile will ultimately depend on how quickly vaccines can move from the global reserve to communities facing outbreaks.

The initiative offers a potential shift from scrambling for vaccines after an outbreak has intensified to having doses available in advance. But ensuring that those vaccines reach the people most at risk will require strong surveillance, rapid allocation, effective delivery systems and sustained support for African health systems.