UN expert concerned about lack of equitable access to mpox vaccines

GENEVA – Expressing concern about a lack of equitable access to mpox vaccines to all populations, which play a critical role in the prevention of an outbreak, a UN expert today demanded equity in the field of global health by providing vaccine access to all those in need.

“Equitable vaccine access for all, including populations from the so-called global South is crucial,” said Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health. The Special Rapporteur stressed that “global access to mpox vaccines for everyone who needs them, is a human rights issue.”

As the mpox outbreak has been declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by WHO, Mofokeng warned that countries in Africa were already dealing with the presence of the virus.

“States, in particular those from the global North have an active role to play in providing global solidarity,” Mofokeng said. “Businesses must not put profits before saving lives.”

“Surveillance, preparedness and response activities related to mpox should be coordinated in a manner that includes all groups of the population, including people with disabilities, older persons, indigenous peoples, internally displaced people, people affected by extreme poverty and living in overcrowded settings, people who live in residential institutions, people in detention, homeless people, migrants and refugees, people who use drugs, LGBTIQ+ people,” the expert said.

She urged coordinated action, guided by a commitment to creating a world with equal opportunity to realising the right to health for all. “To this end, promoting vaccine equity between and within countries is crucial,” Mofokeng said.

“There is an opportunity now for donors to contribute to equitable outcomes,” she said, calling for a coordinated international response to saving lives by ensuring access to mpox vaccines.