Mpox Vaccination in Africa: Addressing the Global Health Challenge
- September 10, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Mpox Vaccination in Africa: Addressing the Global Health Challenge
Sub: Sci
Sec: Health
Why this is in News
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epicentre of the global mpox outbreak, has received its first batch of vaccines, nearly a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the infection a global health emergency. The delay in vaccine delivery and the shortage of vaccines in Africa have raised concerns, particularly as mpox continues to spread.
Background of Mpox Outbreak
Global Impact: Since January 1, 2022, mpox cases have been reported in 121 countries, including 20 WHO member-states across Africa. As of September 5, 2024, 1,03,048 laboratory-confirmed cases and 229 deaths have been reported worldwide. India confirmed its first mpox case, which was travel-related, in September 2024. Despite the surge in cases, vaccines have been in limited supply across Africa.
What is Mpox (monkeypox)?
Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus which was first recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The emergence of mpox in the DRC is caused by a new clade of the virus, clade Ib, which emerged late last year and is characterized by severe disease and higher mortality.
Broadly, the monkeypox virus has two clades.
Clade I has been present in the DRC for several years causing sporadic outbreaks, while clade II (previously the West African clade) and specifically IIb emerged during the global mpox outbreak that attracted global attention in 2022.
Clade I:
Severity: Clade I is considered the more severe and deadlier variant.
Transmission: This clade is typically transmitted from animals to humans, which is known as zoonotic transmission.
Geographical Distribution: Historically, Clade I have been more common in Central Africa, where human-to-animal interaction is higher.
Clade II:
Subdivisions: Clade II is further divided into Clade IIa and Clade IIb.
Clade IIb is the newer variant responsible for the recent global outbreak.
Transmission: This clade is more transmissible between humans, and it has been linked to human-to-human transmission, including through close contact and sexual activity.
Affected Groups: Clade IIb has affected more women and children in Africa and is spreading faster than previous variants.
Vaccines for Mpox
Types of Vaccines Available: Currently, three vaccines are being used for mpox, all derived from the vaccinia virus, which was the basis for the smallpox vaccine.
- Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA): Manufactured by Bavarian Nordic (Denmark), it has received approval from both the US FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This vaccine has been supplied to DRC.
- LC16m8: Produced by KM Biologics (Japan), it is approved only by Japan’s regulatory authority.
- ACAM2000: Developed by Emergent BioSolutions (USA), it was approved by the FDA in 2024.
New Developments: A vaccine by BioNTech (Germany) is under early clinical trials. Serum Institute of India (SII) is also working on developing an mpox vaccine, expected to yield results within a year
Challenges in Vaccine Distribution in Africa
Cost Barrier: The high cost of available mpox vaccines ($50–$75 per dose) has made it difficult for African countries to procure them.
Regulatory Delays: Gavi and UNICEF cannot procure vaccines until the WHO provides Emergency Use Listing or full approval.
GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization
GAVI is a global health partnership established in 2000 to improve access to vaccines in low-income countries. Headquartered in Geneva, it aims to ensure equal vaccine access, especially for children in the poorest nations.
Foster collaboration among governments, international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, World Bank), and the private sector.
India’s Role: Began receiving GAVI support in 2002 for its immunization programs. India is the largest vaccine supplier to GAVI.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Location: Central Africa, bordered by 9 countries.
Capital: Kinshasa.
Natural Resources: Rich in minerals like cobalt, copper, and diamonds. DRC holds about 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves.
Economy: Heavily reliant on mining; agriculture is also significant.
Mpox Epicenter: DRC is the epicenter of the global mpox outbreak, with limited vaccine access.
Environmental Significance: Home to the Congo Rainforest, the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon.
Colonial History: Formerly colonized by Belgium; gained independence in 1960.