Urgent Global Effort Needed for Monkeypox Vaccine Distribution

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, emphasizing the urgent need for global cooperation to develop and distribute vaccines.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, made the announcement on the social network X, stating, “A public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm under international health law. The Emergency Committee’s advice to me, and that of the @AfricaCDC, which yesterday declared a public health emergency of regional security, are aligned” This declaration marks the highest level of alarm under international health law, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Monkey pox Vaccine: A Critical Need

As the monkeypox virus continues to spread, particularly in African countries, the need for a comprehensive vaccination strategy has become more urgent. Since the beginning of 2024, over ten African nations have reported cases, with the Democratic Republic of Congo alone accounting for more than 90 percent of the reported infections.

The monkeypox virus, which causes a rash and flu-like symptoms, is primarily transmitted through close contact. While the disease was historically confined to certain parts of Africa, recent years have seen its spread to other regions, prompting increased efforts to develop and distribute vaccines.

A Brief History of Monkeypox

Monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus is related to the smallpox virus but generally causes a less severe illness. The disease was originally discovered in laboratory monkeys in Denmark in 1958, hence the name “monkeypox.” However, the primary carriers of the virus in nature are rodents, and transmission to humans typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals.

Historically, monkeypox outbreaks were sporadic and limited to remote regions of Central and West Africa. However, in recent decades, there has been a worrying trend of increasing cases, partly due to waning immunity from smallpox vaccination programs that were discontinued after smallpox was eradicated in 1980. The cessation of these programs left large populations vulnerable to related viruses, such as monkeypox.

WHO’s Response and Call for Support

To combat the current outbreak, WHO has developed a regional response plan, which includes a critical focus on vaccination. The plan requires an initial $15 million in funding.

“We released 1.45 million dollars from the WHO fund for emergency situations, and we are planning more in the coming days. We also appeal to donors to finance the rest of the response plan,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. WHO is working closely with affected countries to prevent further transmission, treat those infected, and save lives.

As the global health community rallies to address this outbreak, the rapid development, production, and distribution of a monkeypox vaccine will be key to controlling the virus and preventing future outbreaks.