The maker of the only licensed monkeypox vaccine, Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic, announced on Thursday an order for up to two million doses over two years with the European Union’s health preparedness authority. The contract, the amount of which has not been communicated, runs for 2023 and 2024, allows member countries of the European Union, but also of the European Economic Area and the Balkans to buy the vaccine, specifies Bavarian Nordic in a statement.
700,000 doses for 2023 from 14 countries concerned
The laboratory claims to have received a preliminary level of orders for 700,000 doses for 2023 from 14 affected countries, via the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (Hera), created as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 19. Since June 2022, and the unprecedented emergence of a large number of cases of monkeypox in Europe and around the world, Hera has already purchased 330,000 doses, specifies Bavarian Nordic.
The monkeypox epidemic is in full decline but experts and health authorities are calling not to declare victory too soon. The WHO Emergency Committee thus decided on November 1 to maintain the maximum health alert on monkeypox, declared on July 23.
Outbreak of cases in Europe and the United States since May
The disease – which is endemic in some West African countries – is characterized by rashes, which may appear on the genitals or in the mouth, and may be accompanied by bouts of fever, sore throat or pain in the lymph nodes.
From May, health authorities noted outbreaks in Europe and the United States. In most cases, the sufferers so far have been relatively young men who have sex with men.