On Tuesday, 28 June, the European Commission announced that it has started delivering the first of the vaccines for the viral zoonosis known as “monkeypox” that were purchased at the EU level.
This initial batch of 5,300 doses of a vaccine developed by Bavarian Nordic is destined for Spain.
For the first time, vaccines purchased jointly by Europeans are being funded by European funds, more precisely, through the new EU4Health programme, which has come to strengthen the European Health Union.
The European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) has procured 109,090 doses of monkeypox vaccine on behalf of the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) (see EUROPE 12971/4). In fact, the European Commission has entrusted HaDEA with executive powers for the purpose of undertaking a series of actions, including the implementation of EU4Health.
HERA will handle distribution of the doses. Distribution will be made in proportion to the population of recipient States, “prioritising the most affected Member States”, explained Stefan De Keersmaecker, the European Commission’s spokesperson specifically for public health and food safety. Mr De Keersmaecker also announced that further rounds of deliveries are expected to be made in Member States affected by the outbreak. Deliveries are already expected to be made in July and August 2022. The next deliveries of monkeypox vaccine will be destined for Portugal, Germany, and Belgium.
Decisions regarding vaccination campaigns at the domestic level rest with Member States.
In parallel, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is monitoring the epidemiological situation with regard to monkeypox and is providing frequent updates as well as recommendations for public health authorities, healthcare providers, and even target demographics. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)