Mpox Vaccine Manufacturer Urged to Drop Price Amid Huge Shortfall in Africa
June 13, 2025
Africa is facing a dire mpox vaccine shortfall, with only half of the 6.4 million needed doses funded, warns Africa CDC’s Dr. Ngashi Ngongo. Countries hardest hit—Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the DRC—are struggling as vaccine deliveries fall far short of requests. High prices, especially the $65-per-dose MVA-BN vaccine from Bavarian Nordic, are straining budgets and hindering rollout. UNICEF, also facing a steep income drop, cannot afford the 350,000 remaining doses in its current deal. With U.S. funding sharply cut and testing rates declining in the DRC, urgent global support is needed to avoid a deeper public health crisis.
Africa’s battle against mpox is being critically undermined by vaccine inequity and funding shortfalls. Of the 6.4 million vaccine doses required to contain the outbreak, only half are currently funded, leaving nations like Sierra Leone and Uganda dangerously under-resourced. According to Dr. Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa CDC, Sierra Leone has received just 50,000 of the 280,000 doses it requested. Uganda has fared only slightly better, despite both countries accounting for the vast majority of Africa’s mpox burden.
The crisis is compounded by the steep price of the MVA-BN vaccine, produced by Bavarian Nordic. At $65 per dose—the second most expensive vaccine in UNICEF’s portfolio—it is unaffordable for many African countries. Public Citizen recently called on Bavarian Nordic to reduce its price, pointing out that the U.S. paid $10 less per dose and that public funding largely financed the vaccine’s development. UNICEF, already struggling with a 20% income decline, cannot afford the remaining 350,000 doses under its existing agreement.
This vaccine gap is not merely logistical—it is a failure of equity and global solidarity. The dismantling of U.S. funding mechanisms, including USAID and WHO support, has stalled vaccine delivery and intensified public health vulnerabilities. Even as reported mpox cases decline, the drop in DRC testing—now just 13%—raises concerns that the decline may be illusory.
Sierra Leone continues to report the majority of new cases, with Ghana, Liberia, and Malawi also experiencing active outbreaks. The continent’s fragile health systems are now contending with concurrent cholera epidemics, further straining limited resources.
This is a pivotal moment. The international community must step up with immediate funding, equitable pricing, and renewed political will. Africa should not be left to confront this expanding epidemic alone, especially when the tools to prevent it already exist.