Yesterday evening the Commission delivered 5,420 doses of the MVA-BN® vaccine to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre’s Vaccine Programmes Unit to support the country’s response to the ongoing mpox outbreak.
This delivery, part of the 215,000 doses pledged by HERA to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to address the current crisis across the African continent, follows the donation of around 200,000 mpox vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September.
These actions reflect a broader initiative aimed at strengthening preparedness and response capacities for both current and future health emergencies, to address emerging health threats rapidly through coordinated intervention and close cooperation with affected nations.
Fast-tracking Pandemic Fund projects for Africa
In addition to this response, five projects of around USD 189 million under the global financing mechanism Pandemic Fund’s second call for proposals are being fast-tracked to respond to the situation in Africa. This includes three country initiatives, proposed by Rwanda, the DRC and Burundi, and two regional/multi-country initiatives for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region and the Virunga area.
Among these projects are efforts aimed at strengthening pandemic prevention and response capabilities focusing on surveillance, laboratories and workforce with applying a One Health approach, a comprehensive approach that considers human, animal, and environmental health. These will significantly bolster the continent’s preparedness for future health crises.
Investing in local manufacturing of vaccines, medicine, and health technologies in Africa
Through Global Gateway, Team Europe is investing EUR 1.3 billion in local manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies in Africa (MAV+). Capacities are being boosted in Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa, including for mRNA vaccines technology. The Commission is also supporting the African Medicines Agency (AMA), the Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM) hosted by the Africa CDC, as well as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa.
In Rwanda, MAV+ is driving 11 projects worth EUR 73.9 million, alongside two regional projects valued at EUR 35 million in the East African Community. These efforts aim to position Rwanda as a hub for vaccine manufacturing and medical innovation by strengthening regulatory systems, promoting local research, and enhancing job creation and supporting the acquisition of the necessary skills in all these areas. Key initiatives include supporting clinical trials and establishing a biobank. Additionally, MAV+ is fostering entrepreneurship through biotech accelerators and seed funds. MAV+ in Rwanda is supported by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, Belgium, and Germany.
Tackling broader threats: Marburg virus
While the mpox crisis requires urgent attention, HERA is also actively addressing other critical health threats in Africa, such as the Marburg virus. As part of the Filoviridae family, which includes both Marburg and Ebola viruses, these pathogens are a key focus for HERA due to their potential to cause severe outbreaks.
Recognising the serious risks posed by these viruses, HERA has prioritised efforts to develop vaccines and treatments, as well as to enhance preparedness for future outbreaks. In late 2023, HERA established a contribution agreement with the WHO through the EU4Health programme with a EUR 7.42 million budget. This agreement aims to accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines and treatments for Filoviruses, while also supporting interepidemic preparedness actions for future outbreaks.
HERA is also working closely with the WHO to deploy clinical protocols for testing and validating candidate therapeutics and vaccines. This rapid response is critical to ensuring that affected countries can rapidly access safe and effective medical countermeasures. Actions include horizontal actions to support diagnostic and laboratory capacities across the continent, particularly for advanced sequencing technologies, in partnership with the Africa CDC and WHO-AFRO. Through Horizon Europe, projects such as MARVAX, which is developing vaccines against the Marburg virus, and NAVIPP, focused on broad-spectrum antivirals for infectious diseases with pandemic potential, are being implemented, demonstrating Europe’s commitment to fostering global health resilience.
HERA’s approach to emerging health threats in Africa—through vaccine deliveries, fast-tracked projects, and strategic partnerships—underscores Europe’s commitment to global health security.
The mpox vaccine delivery to Rwanda is one step in a larger effort to strengthen preparedness for current and future health emergencies, ensuring that both Europe and Africa are better equipped to meet these challenges.
More information
- Factsheet – EU response to the mpox outbreak
- Mpox: HERA to donate over 215,000 vaccine doses to Africa CDC amid urgent outbreak
- First delivery of mpox vaccines arrives to the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Procurement of vaccines for Africa mpox outbreak
- Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa - European Commission
Details
- Publication date
- 7 October 2024
- Author
- Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority