Africa Awaits Delayed Mpox Vaccines Amid Rising Health Concerns

The first 10,000 mpox vaccines are set to arrive in Africa next week amidst a new strain of the virus that has caused global concern. While over 70 countries outside Africa already have access to the vaccines, African nations face delays due to slow WHO processes and logistical challenges, exacerbating existing healthcare disparities.

The first 10,000 mpox vaccines are finally set to arrive in Africa next week amid alarm over a new strain of the virus, which has been endemic on the continent for decades. This delay highlights the sluggish pace in addressing global healthcare inequities, a lesson unheeded from the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say.

The World Health Organization only recently initiated the process to grant poor countries easy access to large quantities of vaccine through international agencies. This could have started years ago, according to health officials. Mpox, a potentially deadly infection, was declared a global health emergency by the WHO on Aug. 14 as the new strain began to spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries.

Despite the urgency, the WHO's slow procedures have forced individual African governments to request donations from wealthier nations. The first batch of 10,000 vaccines on its way to Africa, donated by the United States, was not provided by the U.N. system. Critics call the delay "outrageous" given Africa's past struggles with accessing COVID-19 vaccines.

(With inputs from agencies.)