大象传媒

Earlier this week, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it would get 10 million doses of the mpox vaccine for the continent to combat a new, more dangerous strain of the virus.

Cases of the disease have surged by 160% across Africa compared to 2023, with the outbreak beginning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease has since spread to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya, with cases identified outside of Africa in Sweden and Pakistan.

So, how is the vaccine response prioritised?

Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) is one of the agencies involved in responding to the disease. According to the organisation's CEO, Dr Sania Nishtar, "Certain countries are already maintaining stockpiles and there's a willingness to donate."

Image Credit: (Photo by GUERCHOM NDEBO/AFP via Getty Images)