Gavi delivers largest shipment yet to DRC in support of international mpox response

A new shipment of 200,000 mpox vaccines doses provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance will arrive this week in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in support of the country’s on-going response to the mpox outbreak. 

Mpox continues to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). DRC has been impacted by the current mpox outbreak more than any other country, with more than 20,000 cases and 49 deaths reported in the country by mid-April 2025. In response, the country has administered more than half a million mpox vaccine doses since October 2024, having now received more than 950,000 doses from various sources including this latest shipment from Gavi.

“Beyond its strong symbolism, this delivery demonstrates the constant mobilization of all actors involved in protecting the most vulnerable communities and preserving global health,” said Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Health, Democratic Republic of the Congo. “The 200,000 doses of Mpox vaccine received are the result of exemplary cooperation in the field of health, based on international solidarity through the strategic partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. As part of the intensification of our response to the epidemic, and based on available epidemiological data and analyses, these doses will be deployed primarily in the most affected areas. Special attention will be given to the most at-risk populations, particularly those living in regions where massive displacements due to the security situation have facilitated the spread of the disease.”

In 2024, an upsurge in mpox cases in Africa and the emergence of mpox Clade Ib, led to WHO declaring mpox a PHEIC and Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) declaring mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Since 2024, and as of 23 April 2025, nearly 31,000 cases have been confirmed in 24 countries in Africa and the latest mpox strain, clade Ib, has impacted 16 countries outside the African continent. 

Vaccines have formed a critical part of the response to this emergency, with countries, Gavi, WHO, Africa CDC, UNICEF, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and other partners working together to enable the administration of more than 647,000 doses across the most impacted countries in Africa. Leveraging its First Response Fund, an instrument established with support from Gavi donors after the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure rapid access to vaccines and vaccination support in a major public health emergency, Gavi has a key role in the vaccine pillar of the international response. 

This includes signing an advance purchase agreement with Bavarian Nordic in September 2024 within weeks of the WHO PHEIC declaration, making 500,000 doses available to countries immediately after its MVA-BN vaccine secured WHO regulatory approval. Doses through this agreement have now been delivered to DRC, Nigeria, Rwanda, Central Africa Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Kenya. Gavi has further facilitated nearly 250,000 dose donations from countries and the manufacturer, and allocated more than US$ 6.2 million to support countries’ vaccination activities, making Gavi the largest vaccine contributor to the global Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) for mpox. 

“Emerging threats like mpox Clade 1b should be a warning to all of us,” said Dr Derrick Sim, Managing Director, Vaccine Markets and Health Security at Gavi. “The best way to save lives and lessen the spread and economic impact of infectious disease outbreaks worldwide is to invest in prevention and early response. Gavi is proud that, thanks to the support of our Board and donors, the resources we put in place after the pandemic are doing their job: securing rapid access to vaccines protecting the most at-risk communities in DRC and the region – which also keeps the world safe by preventing further spread. With infectious disease outbreaks on the rise, we are calling on our donors to fully fund Gavi’s mission so we can continue to save lives and protect the world from outbreaks over the next five years.” 

In Gavi’s next strategic period from 2026 to 2030, it aims to create a global stockpile of mpox vaccines that can be used by all countries to swiftly respond to outbreaks. Gavi currently funds the global stockpiles of cholera, Ebola, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. The continuation of these efforts, as well as the establishment of a global mpox stockpile, is dependent on Gavi raising least US$ 9 billion from donors for its next strategic period.

×