DRC receives first batch of Mpox vaccines amid ongoing outbreak

DRC—The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has received its first shipment of mpox vaccines, which health authorities hope will help curb an ongoing outbreak that has affected the region and led the United Nations to declare a global public health emergency.

The DRC has been at the center of the mpox outbreak, which has spread to neighboring countries such as Burundi Uganda and Kenya.

However, vaccine shortages in Africa have hindered efforts to contain the virus, which can be fatal in some cases. The recent vaccine delivery is seen as a crucial step in addressing this challenge.

According to Reuters, the shipment, consisting of doses produced by the Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic and donated by the European Union (EU), was flown into the capital, Kinshasa.

This marks a significant milestone in the fight against mpox, particularly in a region that has struggled with access to vaccines.

Speaking to reporters, Congo’s Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, emphasized the effectiveness of the vaccine, which has already been used successfully in the United States.

He explained that the vaccine would primarily be administered to adults in the country. “We are aware of the provinces most affected, including Equateur and South Kivu. Our goal is to contain the virus as swiftly as possible,” Mulamba stated.

The initial shipment includes 99,000 doses, with an additional 101,000 doses expected to arrive by Saturday, bringing the total to 200,000 doses.

Laurent Muschel, head of the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), confirmed these figures.

He added that Europe plans to distribute a total of 566,000 doses across regions most in need. Burundi is slated to receive the next batch of vaccines, pending approval from its medical regulatory body.

The vaccine’s arrival in the DRC also highlights the inequity that African nations have faced in accessing vaccines.

During the global mpox outbreak in 2022, countries in Europe and the United States had wide access to vaccines, while African nations, including the DRC, were left without any.

The DRC plans to officially launch its vaccination campaign on October 8, whereby the government aims to conduct a widespread awareness campaign ahead of the rollout to address vaccine hesitancy and mistrust within certain communities.

Mpox, which is transmitted through close contact, including sexual contact, typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

It can also be deadly, as evidenced by the DRC’s recent statistics, whereby in the first eight months of 2024 alone, the DRC’s health ministry reported 19,710 suspected cases of mpox, of which 5,041 were confirmed, and 655 resulted in death.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and  insights from Africa and the World HERE