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Vaccine Shortage Intensifies Amid Ongoing Outbreak
African health officials are raising alarms after hundreds of thousands of mpox vaccine doses intended for the continent reportedly expired unused in the United States. The waste comes as African countries continue to struggle with a prolonged outbreak, limited access to testing, and dire shortages of vaccines to curb the spread.
Stalled Shipments and Lingering Doses
An Africa CDC spokesperson stated that the U.S. has delivered just 91,000 out of the more than 1 million doses pledged by the Biden administration. Currently, 220,000 doses are held in the U.S., with enough shelf life left to be shipped if the Trump administration grants approval. The U.S. has not revealed the cost per shot; however, UNICEF reported last year that it was paying up to $65 per dose, considered the market’s lowest price.
Foreign Aid Cuts and Legislative Uncertainty
The issue is exacerbated by recent U.S. policy changes: President Donald Trump previously scaled back foreign aid and dissolved the U.S. Agency for International Development, which previously managed most aid programs. Congressional leaders are expected to approve a bill this week—at Trump’s request—that would rescind hundreds of millions of dollars from global health funding.
The Human Toll: Numbers on the Ground
Africa has reported approximately 160,000 suspected mpox cases since the start of the outbreak, with 46,000 of those confirmed through laboratory testing. Nearly 1,900 people—many of them children—are suspected to have died from the virus. However, only 216 deaths have been officially confirmed, as persistent conflict and a lack of testing in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo have hindered reporting efforts.
The World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in Africa a global public health emergency last year, citing both its rapid spread and the challenges in containing the virus’s impact.
The Growing Threat
Researchers have sounded the alarm that the virus behind mpox is mutating, potentially increasing its transmissibility or severity1. In 2022, both the U.S. and Europe battled their first significant wave of mpox infections, stemming outbreaks with targeted vaccination campaigns amongst high-risk populations.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information reported by Politico and statements from public health officials as of July 18, 2025. Details and numbers may evolve as new information becomes available. Please consult verified sources and local health authorities for the latest updates.
