Mpox vaccine doses finally arrive in Congo, offering glimmers of hope

ZIMSPHERE 

KINSHASA – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) received a significant boost in its fight against the mpox outbreak as the United States delivered 50,000 vaccine doses, following a European Union shipment a week earlier. This development signifies a critical step in controlling the highly infectious disease.

A health worker attends to a mpox patient, at a treatment centre in Munigi, eastern Congo, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. [Image: AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa]

Congo's Monkeypox Response Committee coordinator, Cris Kacita Osako, announced that vaccination campaigns will begin on October 2, targeting the provinces of Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru. The initial phase will prioritize adults in these heavily affected areas.

The EU's first batch of 100,000 JYNNEOS vaccine doses arrived last week, with an additional 100,000 delivered over the weekend. 

Manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, these vaccines were provided through HERA, the EU's health emergencies agency. The U.S. shipment also contains the JYNNEOS vaccine.

Despite the arrival of 250,000 doses, this is only a fraction of the 3 million needed to curb the outbreak in Congo, the epicenter of the global health emergency. EU countries have pledged over 500,000 more doses, though delivery dates remain uncertain.

Since January 2024, Africa has reported 5,549 confirmed mpox cases and 643 deaths, a sharp increase from previous years. Congo accounts for 91% of these cases, with most infections occurring in children under 15. Burundi follows as the second most affected country.

In response, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alongside the World Health Organization, launched a continent-wide plan to combat the outbreak, following WHO's declaration of a global emergency in 12 African countries.

Congo has granted emergency approval for the vaccine, already used in Europe and the U.S. for adults. Initially, the rollout will focus on adults who have been in close contact with infected individuals and sex workers, according to Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya.

The European Medicines Agency is reviewing data to extend vaccination to children aged 12 to 17, potentially by the end of the month, as stated by HERA Director-General Laurent Muschel.

Kacita Osako mentioned that the next vaccine shipment from Japan could arrive as soon as this weekend, though the number of doses remains unspecified.

(with the Associated Press)