On Thursday, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) received its first batch of mpox vaccines, marking a significant step in efforts to control an outbreak that has led the UN to declare a global public health emergency, Reuters reports.
The arrival of these vaccines comes amid a growing crisis in the region, which has also affected neighboring countries.
The vaccine shipment, consisting of 99,000 doses, arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, at approximately 13:00 local time (12:00 GMT). The doses were manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and donated by the European Union. A second shipment is expected on Saturday, which will bring the total number of doses to 200,000, according to Laurent Muschel, head of the EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, Congo’s health minister, highlighted the importance of the vaccines, noting that they have already demonstrated efficacy in the United States. The vaccination campaign will initially target adults in the most affected provinces, including Equateur and South Kivu, with plans to contain the virus as swiftly as possible.
The arrival of the vaccines in Congo is seen as a crucial step in addressing the disparity in vaccine access between Africa and other regions. European efforts aim to distribute a total of 566,000 doses to the areas most in need. Next in line for vaccine deliveries is expected to be Burundi, pending authorization from the country’s medical agency.
Mpox, which typically presents with flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, has resulted in 19,710 suspected cases in Congo during the first eight months of this year. Of these, 5,041 were confirmed cases and 655 were fatal. The disease spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact.
Congo plans to launch its vaccination campaign on October 8, allowing time for an awareness-raising initiative to address community concerns and vaccine mistrust.
