GENEVA

The EU has signed a new joint procurement contract with Danish manufacturer Bavarian Nordic to secure up to 8 million doses of the MVA-BN vaccine against mpox and smallpox, the European Commission said Thursday.

The commission said in a statement that the agreement, concluded on behalf of 20 participating countries, aims to strengthen preparedness and ensure continued access to vaccines during possible future outbreaks.

The four-year contract is built on the EU’s 2022 agreement for the same vaccine and is intended to reinforce Europe’s capacity to respond rapidly to cross-border health threats. It also allows participating countries to purchase doses for their own national needs while contributing to the EU’s rescEU strategic stockpile of medical countermeasures.

"Mpox outbreaks remain a simmering threat," Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said. "This joint procurement boosts our readiness and guarantees security of supply against mpox and smallpox. Vigilance and preparedness are essential to safeguard health security across Europe."

The European Commission said the new contract reflects growing interest from member states in pooling vaccine demand to secure better prices and predictable supply amid heightened global competition.

Coordinated by the executive arm's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the initiative underscored the EU’s broader shift toward collective stockpiling and shared purchasing mechanisms after the COVID-19 pandemic.