Foundation demands equal access to mpox vaccine

PUNCH

As the recent Mpox outbreak continues to pose a health threat in Africa, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria is calling for urgent global action to address vaccine inequity, which is severely hampering the continent’s ability to respond effectively.

The foundation made the call in a statement on Friday.

It noted that it has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, pushing for a pandemic agreement that ensures fair access to vaccines and treatments for developing nations.

AHF Nigeria also raised concerns that the current response to the Mpox outbreak mirrors the inequalities witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It said Africa’s severe Mpox outbreak, driven primarily by the new clade Ib variant, is particularly deadly for children and has impacted at least 13 African countries, with more than 22,800 confirmed cases and more than 620 deaths reported this year.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has endured the brunt, accounting for 96 per cent of cases and 97 per cent of deaths.

“We started our push for equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where we saw the devastating impact of vaccine hoarding on African nations. Now, we are seeing similar challenges play out with Mpox,” said AHF Nigeria Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie.

The World Health Organisation declared Mpox a global health emergency on August 14, 2024.

“However, despite the availability of vaccines, Africa continues to struggle with access due to high costs and limited supply. AHF is urging Western countries and Japan to expedite the donation of Mpox vaccines to Africa and for the WHO to fast-track the approval of other viable vaccine options.

“AHF’s advocacy extends beyond immediate vaccine delivery. The organisation is also pushing for a review of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which has so far failed to ensure fair access to vaccines and treatments for developing nations. What we are seeing with Mpox reflects the gaps in the current pandemic agreement.

“We need mechanisms in place that guarantee equitable access to vaccines for all countries, especially during global health crises. AHF has continuously highlighted that without accountability and enforcement in these agreements, poorer nations will remain vulnerable to the monopolies of pharmaceutical companies and the unequal distribution of life-saving health products.

“It can be recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global south, including many African countries, was disproportionately affected by vaccine shortages. While developed nations secured large quantities of vaccines for their populations, many African countries could not provide even a single dose to most of their citizens. This glaring inequality had catastrophic consequences, contributing to over 1.3 million deaths across the continent,” the statement added.

AHF Nigeria, however, restated its global network call for a more robust and enforceable pandemic preparedness plan that includes independent oversight, accountability, and real-time verification of compliance.

It stressed that without such measures, the international community risks repeating the same mistakes with pandemics as they happen.

AHF Nigeria also urged the WHO and global health bodies to not only speed up the delivery of Mpox vaccines to Africa but to ensure that vaccine production technology is shared with the region, adding that patent waivers and technology transfers are critical steps to enable local vaccine production and reduce dependency on Western manufacturers.

The AHF Africa Bureau Chief, Dr Penninah Iutung said, “Without urgent action, the inequality we are seeing will only worsen, leaving African nations at the mercy of another public health disaster. We cannot afford to let history repeat itself.”

The statement further noted that the Mpox crisis has also shone a spotlight on the broader issue of how global health agreements are shaped.

“AHF Nigeria reinforces AHF Global’s position that any pandemic agreement must include provisions for the global south, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are not left behind.