NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is set to benefit from a new global stockpile of mpox vaccines designed to help countries access doses more quickly and equitably when outbreaks occur.
The stockpile was launched on August 27, 2026, and is expected to begin operations later this month under an initiative funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
It will be coordinated by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, which brings together the World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The initiative is intended to address delays and inequalities experienced during previous health emergencies by ensuring vaccines are available to countries facing outbreaks, including those with limited resources.
New mpox stockpile targets vaccine inequality
The global stockpile was established partly in response to lessons from the 2022 mpox outbreak, when lower-income countries struggled to secure vaccines as wealthier nations moved quickly to obtain supplies.
Gavi CEO Dr Sania Nishtar said the experience demonstrated the need for a mechanism capable of ensuring that vaccines reach countries and communities most in need.
“During the 2022 Mpox outbreak, lower-income countries were left behind when it came to access to vaccines,” Nishtar said.
She said the new mechanism would help ensure that vaccines, as a global public good, could be accessed by countries when they are most urgently required.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the stockpile as an important step towards a more sustainable and equitable response to mpox outbreaks.
“By establishing a dedicated global stockpile, using an approach that has proven successful for managing other emergency vaccines, we are ensuring that countries can access them more quickly when they need them, saving lives and containing outbreaks before they spread further,” Tedros said.
Kenya remains among countries affected by mpox
The new arrangement could be significant for Kenya, which has experienced serious mpox transmission during the ongoing outbreak.
WHO data showed that Kenya recorded four mpox deaths among 78 confirmed cases during a six-week period between February and March 2026.
The deaths gave Kenya the highest number of reported mpox fatalities in Africa during that period, despite the country not recording the continent’s highest number of cases.
However, the situation subsequently improved.
In its latest report published on July 31, WHO recorded 48 confirmed cases and no deaths in Kenya during the six weeks leading up to July 19.
Kenya ranked third among African countries during that period, behind Madagascar and Angola.
The figures suggest that transmission in Kenya had eased compared with the earlier period, although the country remains among those being monitored as mpox continues to circulate across Africa.
Madagascar records Africa’s largest outbreak
Madagascar remains the most severely affected country in Africa based on the latest figures.
The country has recorded nearly 3,000 confirmed mpox cases and 18 deaths since December 2025, making its outbreak the largest reported in Africa and among the largest globally.
Madagascar has also vaccinated nearly 90,000 people, including health workers, sex workers and people living with HIV.
Despite the vaccination campaign, health authorities continue to monitor the outbreak because transmission has not yet been brought under control.
Across Africa, 32 countries recorded more than 51,000 confirmed mpox cases and 235 deaths between January 2025 and mid-July 2026.
Globally, mpox has affected 105 countries, with more than 63,000 confirmed cases and 256 deaths reported since the beginning of 2025.
How mpox spreads
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person.
Transmission can occur through sexual contact and other forms of prolonged close contact. The virus can also spread through contact with infected animals.
Symptoms can include fever, painful skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes.
The disease can be particularly serious for young children and people with weakened immune systems, including people living with untreated HIV.
Health authorities continue to emphasise vaccination and other preventive measures for people at higher risk of severe disease and infection.
WHO urges Kenya to strengthen surveillance
The establishment of the global vaccine stockpile is expected to make it easier for countries such as Kenya to obtain vaccines when outbreaks intensify.
Previously, countries with limited vaccine access could face delays as they competed for doses during international health emergencies.
WHO has urged countries affected by mpox to strengthen disease surveillance, testing and public communication to ensure new infections are detected quickly.
Improved surveillance is particularly important because limited testing and reporting can mean that the number of infections detected officially does not fully reflect the level of transmission within communities.
For Kenya, maintaining effective surveillance will therefore remain important even as reported cases decline.
Unicef highlights impact on children
Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that the consequences of mpox among children can extend beyond the physical symptoms of the disease.
“Mpox can be devastating for children, not just its physical effects, but also the stigma, interrupted learning and fear that can come with being isolated from family and friends,” Russell said.
She welcomed the new stockpile, saying it could help vaccines reach children, families and communities facing the greatest risk.
The initiative is expected to provide a more predictable mechanism for vaccine deployment during future outbreaks, particularly in countries that may otherwise struggle to secure doses quickly.
