Germany announced plans to donate 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from its military reserves to assist in controlling the outbreak on the African continent.

According to a government spokesperson on Monday, this move aims to provide immediate support to affected countries. The country will also offer flexible financial resources to the World Health Organization (WHO) and extend support through the GAVI vaccination alliance to its African partners.

PHOTO | COURTESY mpox 

Germany currently holds approximately 117,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine, which the German army initially procured in 2022 and stockpiled.

According to a defense ministry spokesperson, a portion of this stock will be retained for critical needs, such as safeguarding traveling officials. The decision to reorder vaccines will be made separately.

PHOTO | COURTESY mpox vaccine 

The WHO has declared mpox a global public health emergency following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has since spread to neighboring countries. The emergence of a new variant, clade Ib, has heightened concerns due to its rapid transmission rate.

A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Germany is prioritizing the swift delivery of vaccines to the most affected regions, with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and other East African countries.