Vaccines are a critical part of the global response to the current mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries. Canada is committed to health security in Africa and vaccine equity, to ensure vaccines reach those who need them most.

“Vaccines save lives. With today’s announcement, Canada is demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that vaccines reach the people who need them most, especially in times of crisis. We’ll keep working closely with our African and multilateral partners to stop the spread of the mpox outbreak.”

- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

“Canada is answering the WHO and Africa CDC’s call to help stop outbreaks of mpox through coordinated efforts with our partners. Our offer of up to 200,000 vaccine doses will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and help prevent further spread of the virus.”

- Mark Holland, Minister of Health

• The WHO declared mpox a PHEIC on August 14, 2024, and has launched an Mpox Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.

• Vaccines save more than 4 million lives each year. Canada’s long-standing support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has helped immunize more than 1 billion children.

• The Imvamune vaccine is authorized in Canada by Health Canada under the provision of the Extraordinary Use New Drug Submission for adult use, for active immunization against smallpox, mpox and related orthopoxvirus infections.

• Canada’s supply of Imvamune is held in the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile to support public health response to mpox cases in Canada, but also as part of Canada’s stockpiling requirements for smallpox preparedness. This offer will not impact Canada’s domestic preparedness for public health response to mpox cases in Canada or its smallpox preparedness.

• On August 19, 2024, Canada announced a contribution of $1 million to the WHO’s mpox response to support pressing needs including surveillance, increased diagnostic capacity, accelerated research, and community engagement. Canada is also a strong supporter of the WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE), having contributed $11 million since 2018, including $2 million in 2024, a portion of which is also being used in the mpox response.

• As of September 4, 2024, the Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the International Development Research Centre, and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, has already invested more than $15.8 million in research on preparedness, prevention and response to mpox.

• In February 2023, CIHR further invested $6.35 million through the CRPPHE and the CIHR HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections Research Initiative, to fund a broader range of mpox research studies with the aim of generating timely and relevant evidence to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to outbreaks of mpox and other orthopox viruses in Canada and globally.

Related products

• Minister Joly announces funding for mpox response
• Government of Canada’s response to the World Health Organization’s declaration on mpox
• Canada announces support for vaccine manufacturing in Africa

Associated links

• Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for mpox
• National Emergency Strategic Stockpile
• Immunization in developing countries

Olivia Batten 
Press Secretary 
Office of the Minister of International Development 
Olivia.Batten@international.gc.ca

Matthew Kronberg
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Mark Holland 
Minister of Health 
343-552-5654

Media Relations Office  
Global Affairs Canada 
media@international.gc.ca

Media Relations 
Public Health Agency of Canada 
613-957-2983 
media@hc-sc.gc.ca

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