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Expired Vaccine Doses: US-Promised Supplies for Africa Face Imminent Expiration

"Lawmakers express grave concerns as they describe the upcoming situation as a looming moral, tactical, and health predicament to the U.S. State Department."

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US-Promised Vaccine Doses for Africa on the Verge of Expiration Instead
US-Promised Vaccine Doses for Africa on the Verge of Expiration Instead

Expired Vaccine Doses: US-Promised Supplies for Africa Face Imminent Expiration

In the midst of an ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, hundreds of thousands of promised U.S. vaccine doses are at risk of going to waste due to expiration dates nearing. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has a policy requiring vaccines to have at least six months of shelf life remaining before they can be shipped and used effectively.

The mpox outbreak initially spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries such as Uganda and Burundi, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak in August 2024. The WHO later classified the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, its highest form of alert.

However, due to significant budget cuts to USAID made during the Trump administration, the shipment and distribution of nearly 800,000 mpox vaccine doses have been severely delayed. This has resulted in only a fraction of the vaccines being delivered with adequate shelf life. The delays have created a shortage of usable vaccines in Africa, causing many doses to potentially expire before reaching those in need.

A letter signed by 48 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives has been sent to the U.S. State Department, describing the situation as a "moral, strategic, and public health failure." The letter is regarding hundreds of thousands of mpox vaccine doses and states that 800,000 doses are at risk.

The letter also highlights that if the State Department begins shipping immediately, some 220,000 doses could be viable. Mpox is a viral infection that typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. In some cases, it can be lethal.

The Republican-controlled Senate and House of Representatives passed legislation this month approving Trump's request for about $8 billion in foreign aid cuts. President Trump has been advocating for other countries to shoulder more of the burden for foreign aid.

As of last month, the WHO is still considering the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[1] Source for the information about the USAID's policy: [URL] [2] Source for the information about the delays in vaccine distribution: [URL] [3] Source for the information about the shortage of usable vaccines in Africa: [URL] [4] Source for the information about the letter sent to the U.S. State Department: [URL] [5] Source for the information about the number of doses at risk: [URL] [6] Source for the information about the potential expiration of doses: [URL] [7] Source for the information about the WHO's classification of the mpox outbreak: [URL] [8] Source for the information about the mpox outbreak in Uganda and Burundi: [URL] [9] Source for the information about the legislation approving foreign aid cuts: [URL] [10] Source for the information about President Trump's advocacy for other countries to shoulder more of the burden for foreign aid: [URL] [11] Source for the information about the WHO's current classification of the mpox outbreak: [URL]

  1. The ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa has led to a significant issue with expiring U.S. vaccine doses, as USAID's policy requires vaccines to have at least six months of shelf life remaining before they can be used effectively.
  2. The delays in distributing mpox vaccines due to budget cuts during the Trump administration have resulted in a shortage of usable vaccines in Africa, with hundreds of thousands of doses potentially expiring before reaching those in need.
  3. A letter signed by 48 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives has criticized the current situation as a "moral, strategic, and public health failure," urging immediate action to send out the vaccines to prevent further loss.
  4. While some 220,000 doses could still be viable if the State Department begins shipping immediately, the ongoing mpox outbreak, classified by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern, highlights the importance of prioritizing global health and wellness over political agendas at a time of crisis.

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