Congo Speeds Up Mpox Vaccination Campaign Amid Severe Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo is accelerating its mpox vaccination campaign, starting on October 2, nearly a week ahead of the initial schedule. The country aims to vaccinate adults in six provinces but faces challenges due to vaccine shortages, despite donations from the U.S., EU, Japan, and upcoming contributions from France and Belgium.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is expediting its mpox vaccination campaign to commence on October 2, nearly a week earlier than originally planned. This decision was announced on Wednesday by the outbreak response chief, Cris Kacita.

Congo, the epicentre of the ongoing mpox outbreak, has faced significant hurdles in controlling the spread of the virus due to vaccine shortages. The World Health Organization recently declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. Congo initially planned to roll out vaccinations on October 8 after receiving its first batch of mpox doses last week, but logistical advancements have allowed an earlier start.

The campaign, lasting 10 days, will prioritize adults, including healthcare workers, park rangers, and sex workers across six provinces. Despite receiving 265,000 doses from the United States and the European Union, these will not cover all affected areas. Additional doses have been promised by France and Belgium, with a further 3.5 million doses from Japan for children in the works. Efforts are ongoing to build trust in the vaccine and manage distribution challenges in the vast country.

(With inputs from agencies.)