Congo to EU: Give us your mpox jabs

All of those supplies were distributed to the EU countries that requested them, while some countries decided to buy their own independently of the Commission.

Some of those jabs were used during the 2022 outbreak of mpox clade II, a less severe form of the virus that has now spread globally. But countries still have hefty stockpiles left over.

Spain, for example, still has 500,000 vials that it bought independently of HERA. Assuming a more conservative four intradermal jabs per vial — since “you may not always get a total five doses per vial” — the stores would allow 2 million shots to be administered, Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla told POLITICO. 

According to an official at the Dutch Health Ministry, meanwhile, the Netherlands currently has 100,000 vials — enough for some 500,000 shots. Some jabs were bought privately, others via HERA, the official added.

Lithuania has enough supplies for 2,500 shots, which it procured via HERA, a spokesperson for the health ministry confirmed. Denmark also bought 7,000 doses from Bavarian Nordic, while Germany’s federal government said it has 117,000 doses.

France has yet to confirm how many doses it will make available, after an Aug. 15 pledge by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to share. A government spokesperson told POLITICO that France would make the donation via European institutions.