Africa CDC Expands Mpox Response with Bavarian Nordic Vaccine Donation
In a continued bid to strengthen Africa’s readiness against mpox, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has received an additional donation of 110,000 mpox vaccine doses from Bavarian Nordic. The vaccines are allocated to Uganda, one of the countries most affected in 2025, through the Mpox Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM), a coordinated effort by Africa CDC and key global health partners. This latest contribution significantly enhances vaccine availability and reinforces the continent’s ability to respond quickly and equitably to ongoing mpox outbreaks.
Strategic Allocation Through the Mpox AAM
The Mpox Access and Allocation Mechanism is central to Africa’s public health strategy, ensuring fair distribution of vaccines and other countermeasures to affected Member States. By channeling the 110,000 doses to Uganda, Africa CDC reinforces the mechanism’s goal of rapid, coordinated response while supporting the broader objective of the New Public Health Order for Africa. This approach helps African nations maintain a state of preparedness, self-reliance, and resilience in the face of current and emerging health threats.
Impact on Uganda’s Outbreak Response
Uganda has faced sustained mpox transmission in 2025, underscoring the need for sustained vaccine access alongside surveillance, case management, and community engagement. The additional vaccines will bolster Uganda’s capacity to immunize high-risk populations, support contact tracing efforts, and accelerate outbreak containment—crucial steps in reducing transmission and preventing parallel outbreaks in neighboring countries.
Global Partnerships Amplify African Health Security
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, emphasized the importance of continued international collaboration: “Africa CDC welcomes this continued partnership with Bavarian Nordic in responding to the ongoing mpox outbreak. This donation of vaccines will significantly strengthen Uganda’s outbreak response and supports our collective efforts to ensure timely and equitable access to life-saving tools across Africa. Sustained collaboration with our partners is vital to achieving a continent that is prepared, self-reliant, and resilient against public health threats.”
Corporate Commitment to Africa’s Health Needs
With this latest donation, Bavarian Nordic has now committed a total of 165,000 doses of its MVA-BN mpox vaccine to Africa. Previous contributions have supported outbreak response efforts through Africa CDC, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and Gavi-eligible countries. Paul Chaplin, the company’s President and CEO, noted that mpox remains a health emergency in Africa and highlighted the role of sustained funding and vaccine availability in enabling an effective public health response: “We are pleased to reinforce our commitment through another donation of our mpox vaccine.”
Looking Ahead: Preparedness and Equity
Africa CDC’s Mpox AAM continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring equitable access to vaccines and other medical countermeasures. The mechanism aligns with Africa’s broader health security agenda, helping Member States respond swiftly to mpox outbreaks while fostering resilient health systems capable of withstanding current and future threats.
As Africa strengthens its vaccination capacity and surveillance networks, the continued partnership with Bavarian Nordic and other global health actors remains essential. The combined effort supports not only immediate outbreak control but also long-term improvements in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and regional collaboration across the continent.
About Africa CDC
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is a public health agency of the African Union. It supports member states in strengthening health systems, disease surveillance, emergency response, and disease control. Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
