Congo Receives First Batch of Mpox Vaccines from EU

The Democratic Republic of Congo received its initial shipment of mpox vaccines from the European Union to address a significant outbreak. With 99,000 doses delivered and more on the way, health authorities aim to curb the virus's spread in heavily affected provinces. A vaccination campaign will begin on October 8.

The Democratic Republic of Congo took a crucial step in combating its mpox outbreak by receiving its first batch of vaccines from the European Union. The shipment landed in Kinshasa, holding 99,000 doses that will soon be distributed across the nation's most impacted regions.

Congo's Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, emphasized the vaccine's proven efficacy in the United States, noting that it will be targeted towards adults in the provinces hardest hit by the virus. By Saturday, additional doses will bring the total to 200,000, making significant strides in stemming the outbreak.

Laurent Muschel from the EU's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority highlighted Europe's aims to deliver 566,000 doses across the region. The vaccination campaign, slated to start on October 8, seeks to address vaccine inequity and includes an awareness-raising effort to mitigate public mistrust. The spread of mpox in Congo has been devastating, with thousands of suspected and confirmed cases leading to hundreds of fatalities this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)