Monkeypox: Africa CDC Cautions Against Vaccine Hoarding
Mr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the Acting Director of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has stated that he hopes that rich countries will not hoard away vaccines that are needed during the current monkeypox outbreak, as they did with the COVID-19 vaccines.
Monkeypox is a mild viral infection that is endemic to 11 African countries which include Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.
Ever since the beginning of May, Over 200 suspected and confirmed monkeypox cases have been in no less than 19 countries, most of which are in Europe.
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Last weekend, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that it expects to identify more monkeypox cases as it expands its surveillance to countries where the disease is not typically found.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Mr. Ouma, the Acting Director of the Africa CDC said that: “Vaccines should go to where it is needed the most and equitably, so based on risk, and not on who can be able to buy it. We are working with all our member states on the continent to step up surveillance for monkeypox.”
There are no current vaccines for monkeypox but the smallpox vaccine has been shown to offer up to 85 percent protection against monkeypox. He further added that the available supplies of smallpox vaccines will be prioritised for health workers and areas with confirmed cases of the virus.
“The prioritisation is first health workers who are in the front line, and then the affected communities where the outbreaks are first characterised, before contemplating the general public. We do not have yet enough stocks to be able to go into the general public.”
