Uganda receives 10,000 Mpox vaccine doses to strengthen outbreak response

UGANDA—Uganda has received 10,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine to enhance its efforts against the ongoing Mpox outbreak.

These vaccines were donated by the European Commission through its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) as part of a broader initiative to address health emergencies across Africa.

The vaccine delivery is one of several contributions made by HERA to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

So far, the Africa CDC has received more than 215,000 doses to combat Mpox outbreaks in different countries.

Earlier donations included 200,000 doses sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September and 5,420 doses delivered to Rwanda in October.

This latest donation complements earlier support from the U.S. government.

In October 2024, the United States provided Uganda with US$4.1 million (approximately UGX 15 billion) and 5,500 Mpox test kits to strengthen the country’s response.

A significant portion of these funds—US$1.4 million—was allocated to the World Health Organization (WHO) through USAID, while US$600,000 was directed to UNICEF.

Additionally, US$400,000 was used to support the Uganda Health Activity, a project led by the University Research Collaborative (URC), focusing on Mpox preparedness and response.

Laurent Muschel, Head of HERA, highlighted the importance of global collaboration in addressing health emergencies like the Mpox outbreak.

“The 10,000 vaccine doses from HERA will help Uganda tackle this deadly disease. We cannot fight these health threats alone—solidarity between continents is essential,” he emphasized.

The European Commission’s commitment to supporting Africa’s health systems goes beyond vaccine donations.

Through its Team Europe initiative, it has pledged over 605,000 Mpox vaccine doses to the Africa CDC.

So far, 135,500 doses have been delivered by EU member states, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal, with more expected to arrive soon.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health expressed gratitude for the support, noting that these vaccines will help protect vulnerable populations and limit the spread of the disease.

The European Commission’s partnership with Africa CDC demonstrates a shared commitment to tackling emerging health threats and improving public health globally.

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