Dutch health minister will only donate mpox vaccine on parliament say so

Minister of Health Fleur Agema is sticking with her stance of not wanting to donate any mpox vaccines to African countries where the disease is prevalent. But if a majority of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament, the Tweede Kamer, asks her to send the vaccines, then she will do that.

“That’s how it works in a democracy,” said the minister.

Members of parliament want a debate with the health minister and PVV deputy prime minister about her refusal to share vaccines even though the health institute RIVM has advised her to do so. Agema said that she wants to use the debate to change the minds of MPs who have criticized her decision. “But in the end, the Kamer is the boss,” she recognized.

Agema has refused to donate any vaccines thus far because the Netherlands would be left with an insufficient stock if she did so. The minister added that millions of vaccines from other countries have already been donated. According to her, this currently meets the most urgent need without the need for assistance from the Netherlands.