Sweden will not donate mpox vaccines to African countries, reports Svenska Dagbladet. The government says no after a report from the Public Health Agency.
In the report, which SVD has access to, it appears that the Public Health Agency's conclusion is that the risk of large-scale mpox transmission in Sweden is low and that there is therefore currently no need to purchase additional vaccine doses. Despite this, the Public Health Agency does not think that Sweden should donate existing doses.
"Based on this assessment, the government sees no opportunities to donate doses from those purchased and stored in the national stockpile," says Minister for Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD) in a written comment to SvD.
The EU's agency for preparedness and response to health crises, Hera, has asked all member states to donate vaccines to combat the spread of the disease, and last week Germany announced that it would donate 100,000 vaccine doses.