On August 13, 2024, Africa CDC declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency. Just a day later, WHO followed with a global emergency declaration. We stand in solidarity with the peoples of Africa and demand global action to stop the spread and save lives. Let’s unite in supporting vaccination efforts worldwide and ensure that Africa isn’t left behind—again.
History has shown us the consequences of vaccine inequity, delayed action, and performative charity. During HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19 outbreaks, high-income countries only showed solidarity when self-interest justified it, leaving Africa to fend for itself. Today, the continent urgently needs 10 million mpox vaccine doses, but only 280,000 are available. This is unacceptable. Will we repeat the same mistakes?
Vaccine hoarding is a shameful pattern. During COVID-19, wealthy nations refused to waive monopolies on COVID-19 medical tools and stockpiled vaccines. When high-income countries long lifted conventional COVID-19 public health measures, the majority of populations in low-income countries were yet to receive their first dose. At the end of 2022, only about a quarter of the African population had been fully vaccinated, and nearly 5.2 million people have died as a result of vaccine apartheid. These racist responses cannot be repeated. We need equitable access to vaccines and medicines for all. Authentic solidarity is more than words—it’s action.
What does true solidarity look like? It’s ensuring Africa CDC has the funding, vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines needed to control this outbreak. It’s supporting Africa’s vision for a New Public Health Order that prioritizes autonomy over aid.
It is in this spirit that the African Union has set a bold target that 60% of the vaccines needed on continent will be produced there by 2040. To support this goal, Gavi and Africa CDC launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) last June. This financing mechanism will provide over $1 billion over the next decade to improve the continent’s pandemic preparedness, equitable and timely access to vaccines and sovereignty from global supply chains by boosting its manufacturing capacity.
Amidst the mpox crisis in Africa, initiatives like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are stepping up. Gavi is working closely with African nations to ensure vaccine access, scale-up immunization, and support the Africa CDC's response plan. Efforts like these are crucial to preventing further spread and protecting vulnerable communities and must also be supported and funded.
Canada responded to WHO’s declaration, stating that it is exploring additional avenues to support the global response in close collaboration with WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and will look at all options for Canadian engagement, including potential donation, to ensure vaccines reach those who need them the most. We hope to see this translate into tangible actions.
This latest mpox crisis also reminds us that the world desperately needs a strong pandemic accord that enshrines equity and accountability. Repeated failures of equity in global health must become a thing of the past.
The time for action is now. We must ensure Africa is equipped to manage this crisis and future ones. Global solidarity isn’t a choice; it’s a necessity.
Update [19 September 2024]: Canada recently announced that it would make available up to 200,000 doses of vaccines to support the global response to the mpox outbreak. While we welcome this, we will continue our call for Canada to show true global solidarity and ensure Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention (Africa CDC) has the funding, vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines needed to control this outbreak. Want to learn how mechanisms like Gavi are stepping up? Read on here.
