Kvistgard Emerges as Vaccine Hub Again as WHO Declares Mpox a Global Health Crisis

In the quiet town of Kvistgard, just north of Copenhagen, a sense of déjà vu fills the air as the World Health Organization (WHO) once again draws global attention to the mpox epidemic, declaring it a public health emergency of international concern. The focus returns to Bavarian Nordic’s manufacturing plant, the epicenter of mpox vaccine production, which was thrust into the limelight during the 2022 outbreak. Back then, Bavarian Nordic found itself grappling with an overwhelming influx of orders for its MVA-BN vaccine, one of the few effective options available. Other vaccines like Japan’s LC16 and Russia’s OrthopoxVac exist, but their use is largely confined to national borders, leaving Bavarian Nordic's product as a rare global asset approved by numerous health authorities. Experts had long speculated that mpox would resurface, with the virus evolving from an animal-to-human transmission to human-to-human spread. Jean-Daniel Lelièvre, head of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Henri Mondor University Hospital, noted the lack of preparedness in diversifying vaccine production capabilities. “The changes in the behavior of this virus – which was initially transmitted only from animal to human – were a warning,” he explained. “Despite this, we haven't given ourselves the means to have other options for large-scale vaccine production.” In light of the current epidemic affecting parts of Africa, Bavarian Nordic has taken proactive measures to expand its production capacity. The company is mobilizing its existing vaccine manufacturing lines to significantly boost supplies. They aim to deliver up to 10 million doses by 2025, with an ambitious target of two million doses potentially available by the end of this year. This strategy seeks to facilitate a coordinated vaccine response to protect at-risk populations in the countries most severely impacted by the outbreak. However, the logistics of this effort rest on the crucial step of securing orders. Ongoing discussions involve Bavarian Nordic, the WHO, Gavi, the African Union’s public health agency (Africa CDC), and various governments. One pressing challenge remains the cost of the vaccine, which often exceeds the financial capabilities of many African nations, posing a significant barrier to access. In a bid to overcome this obstacle, Bavarian Nordic is engaging in negotiations with the Africa CDC to explore technology transfer. This initiative aims to establish local production capabilities for the mpox vaccine, which could lead to a reduction in costs and improve vaccine accessibility across the continent. As the world watches, the organized vaccine response to the mpox epidemic is slowly taking shape, with Kvistgard once again positioned at the heart of a global health effort. The stakes have never been higher, and the actions taken in the coming months will be pivotal in the fight against this resurgent virus.