The cabinet is making €3 million in additional funding available to help the World Health Organisation’s campaign to combat Mpox in parts of Africa. Aid minister Reinette Klever, who represents the far-right PVV in parliament, said on Monday the funding is key to getting vaccines to those who “need them most”.

“This is why I support the WHO, which is setting up vaccination campaigns,” she said. “This will help prevent the virus spreading.”

Earlier this month, health minister Fleur Agema, also a minister on behalf of the PVV, refused to donate any of the Netherlands 100,000 dose stockpile, even though some 13,000 doses are nearing their expiry date.

She said the stockpile is needed to protect people in the Netherlands if the virus arrives here. The public health agency RIVM had urged the minister to make the donation.

Agema said later she would donate some vaccines if a majority of MPs asked her to do so.