Amid global concern about mpox, the European Union (EU) is working to ensure its Member States have access to vaccine stockpiles and has contracts in place with manufacturers. However, there is also a strong focus on showing solidarity with the worst-affected areas – an approach that will be mutually beneficial if it slows the spread of the disease.
Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health, said strong global partnerships are at the core of the European Health Union. ‘Health security threats know no borders,’ she said. ‘Preparedness and response to health threats is a global endeavour which we are determined to pursue collectively and with solidarity across borders.’
The European Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA) has negotiated two contracts which enable EU (and European Economy Area) countries access to mpox vaccines. Fourteen countries have signed up the joint contract for Imvanex (a vaccine); thirteen for Tecovirimat (a medicine).
While HERA negotiates and establishes a framework contract, the quantities of vaccine used is a matter for national governments to decide based on their own needs. The current contract for Imvanex runs until November 2024, but deliveries can take place until May 2025. The Tecovirimat arrangement is for the supply of over 100,000 treatment courses of the medicine. It is valid until May 2025.
Both contracts allow for the possibility of donations of the vaccine within and outside the EU to target outbreaks of the disease. The donation agreement signed on 14 August 2024 will see a total of 215,420 mpox vaccines donated to African countries in need.
HERA and the European Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) are co-managing a stockpile known as rescEU – which contains mpox vaccines and medicines – that can be used as a last resort should a European country be overwhelmed by a major outbreak.
In a statement to Vaccines Today, the European Commission said the experience of expanding vaccine production capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic have helped to prepare for future outbreaks of other infectious diseases, including mpox.
‘Based on the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, HERA, the [European] Commission services and the Task Force on Industrial scale-up of COVID-19 vaccine production stand ready to respond to any request for assistance and support the scale up the production of vaccines, therapeutics, or any other relevant medical countermeasure needed whenever there is an emergency situation,’ the Commission said.
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