FACT SHEET: Update on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Addressing the Global Mpox Outbreak
December 19, 2024
The United States has reaffirmed its leadership in global health by committing $500 million and donating over one million Mpox vaccine doses to African nations, addressing the ongoing outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa. Key initiatives include deploying TPOXX, a smallpox antiviral, as part of clinical trials, advancing Mpox research, and strengthening global health security. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the U.S. has bolstered laboratory capacity, delivered 50,000 vaccines, and supported Mpox-specific research. This proactive stance underscores a robust international and domestic response, ensuring vaccine access, expanded diagnostics, and a sustainable framework to manage Mpox outbreaks effectively.
The United States has intensified its response to the Mpox outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa by pledging $500 million and donating over one million vaccine doses, marking a critical global health intervention. As part of this initiative, the Biden-Harris Administration has strengthened disease surveillance, expanded laboratory testing, and supported clinical trials of TPOXX, an antiviral initially approved for smallpox.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where over 50,000 suspected Mpox cases have been reported in 2024, the U.S. has delivered 50,000 vaccine doses and increased local diagnostic capacity. U.S. support includes deploying 80 field epidemiologists, enhancing biosafety protocols, and conducting case-tracing efforts to limit the outbreak’s spread. Clinical trials, including the PALM 007 study of TPOXX, have explored treatment efficacy for severe Mpox cases. While TPOXX showed no faster clinical improvement compared to standard care, the trials informed optimized treatment protocols, helping reduce mortality rates.
Beyond Africa, the U.S. has also fortified domestic readiness by ensuring Mpox testing at public and commercial laboratories, expanding wastewater monitoring, and securing clinician education. Vaccine doses remain available through local pharmacies, health departments, and community health centers.
The U.S. Government’s investments in Mpox research and development, including partnerships with international organizations like the World Health Organization, reinforce global health security. As vaccine distribution accelerates, coordinated international efforts are pivotal in mitigating the Mpox outbreak, ensuring equitable vaccine access, and advancing therapeutics research to protect vulnerable populations worldwide. This comprehensive, science-driven response underscores the U.S.’s enduring commitment to pandemic preparedness and global health equity.