Mpox: the fake pandemic generates real money

 

Last week I noted that the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) as a "global health emergency" was suspect on a number of grounds, particularly the very small (relatively speaking) number of cases in even the worst-affected areas.  However, as the notorious Rahm Emanuel observed some years ago, "Never let a serious crisis go to waste" - and throwing public money at another phony emergency means kick-backs, rake-offs and other benefits to far too many politicians.

Bavarian Nordic A/S, one of the few companies with an approved mpox vaccine, says it will be able to meet the immunization needs of African nations in the throes of an mpox outbreak.

Shares in the Danish company surged as much as 17% in early Thursday trading in Copenhagen, extending a 12% rise the day before, after it said it can provide 10 million doses of its vaccine to African countries by the end of 2025.

“We have inventory and we have the capabilities. What we’re missing are the orders,” Bavarian Nordic’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Chaplin said in an interview Wednesday.

. . .

“We are in late August already, so it really does need some speed in the decision making to be able to do that,” he said.

. . .

Africa CDC’s Director General Jean Kaseya has said the continent needs 10 million doses and that the shots are very expensive.

“Pricing is no doubt going to be an issue,” Chaplin said in the interview. “We’re very sensitive about the pricing. We’re fully aware we have to do our bit here and look at pricing in a responsible way,” he said, declining to provide more details.

There's more at the link.

Let's see, now.  Speed is a factor, meaning governments and agencies won't be able to take their time and make a fully informed judgment before shelling out the big bucks?  Check.  "Pricing is no doubt going to be an issue"?  Check.  Company needs a good excuse to charge more for forced, rushed production?  Check.  External pressure to buy the vaccine anyway, regardless of price?  Check.  Am I missing anything here?

What's the betting that the USA (as the world's biggest donor) is going to be asked to shell out a large proportion of the cost of those vaccines to Bavarian Nordic A/S, so the company can make immense profits producing vaccines that aren't even tailored to the current strain of mpox, and send them off to Africa where they'll be misused, wasted, exposed to conditions (heat, humidity, being bounced around in trucks on poor-condition dirt roads, etc.) that will render them useless in fairly short order, and thus have to be replaced (at even more expense) in the not too distant future?

Call me a cynic if you wish, but I've had too much up-close, personal, in-your-face experience with international aid organizations and NGO's to have much faith in this announcement.

Peter