Growing Demand for Russia’s Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine Across Africa

Several African and former Soviet nations have shown interest in purchasing Russia’s vaccine for smallpox and mpox, along with testing kits and antiviral treatments, Russia’s consumer and health watchdog revealed to Reuters. The vaccine, Orthopoxvac, was developed by the Vektor laboratory in Siberia and was officially registered by Russia’s health ministry in 2022. According to a Reuters source, clinical trials have demonstrated the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.