Africa Awaits Mpox Vaccine from Denmark

Kvistgard, located north of Copenhagen, is once again at the center of attention following the World Health Organization's declaration of the mpox epidemic in Africa as a public health emergency on August 14. The Bavarian Nordic vaccine manufacturing plant, which has been operational for decades, previously faced overwhelming demand during the global mpox outbreak in 2022. Experts, including Jean-Daniel Lelièvre from Henri Mondor University Hospital, have noted that the virus's shift from animal-to-human to human-to-human transmission was a clear warning of its potential return. In light of the current epidemic, Bavarian Nordic is ramping up its production capacity for the MVA-BN mpox vaccine. The company plans to utilize existing manufacturing lines to increase its output, aiming to supply up to 10 million doses to Africa by 2025, with 2 million doses potentially available by the end of this year. This initiative is designed to facilitate a coordinated vaccination effort targeting at-risk populations in the most affected regions. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the affordability of the vaccine for many African nations. The high costs associated with the vaccine have been identified as a significant barrier to access. To address this issue, Bavarian Nordic is negotiating with the Africa CDC to transfer technology that would enable local production of the mpox vaccine, potentially leading to lower prices in the future.