An initial allocation of 899,000 mpox vaccine doses has been set aside for nine African countries heavily affected by the recent outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies announced on Wednesday.

The WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency in August, marking the second such declaration in two years, after a new variant, clade Ib, spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring regions.

Facing criticism for slow vaccine action, the WHO approved Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine for mpox in September and is also assessing LC16, a vaccine from Japan’s KM Biologics, as an additional option.

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In response, the WHO created a program to distribute mpox vaccines, tests, and treatments to the most vulnerable populations in low-income countries, mirroring efforts seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The newly allocated doses will be directed to the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda, with the Democratic Republic of Congo receiving 85% of the supply as the hardest-hit country.

These vaccines were sourced from European countries, the United States, Canada, and Gavi, a public-private alliance supporting vaccine access for low-income nations.

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According to the WHO, Africa has recorded over 46,000 confirmed and suspected mpox cases and more than 1,000 deaths this year due to the virus.