Congo receives first Mpox vaccines amid ongoing health crisis

Congo has received its first shipment of mpox vaccines, with 100,000 doses arriving in the capital and another 100,000 expected shortly. The European Union donated the JYNNEOS vaccines, made by Bavarian Nordic. UNICEF will oversee the vaccination campaign in the most affected regions. However, the 380,000 doses promised by Western partners fall far short of the 3 million needed to combat the outbreak effectively.

So far this year, Congo has reported over 4,900 confirmed mpox cases and 629 deaths, primarily affecting children under 15. This vaccine arrival comes three weeks after the WHO declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency. Despite pleas from African governments, few vaccines reached the continent following the 2022 global outbreak.

The current situation in Africa differs from the 2022 outbreak, with transmission occurring through various routes, including sexual contact and close interactions among children and pregnant women. Africa’s predominantly young population is particularly vulnerable due to lack of potential protection from previous smallpox vaccination.

While the vaccine delivery marks a positive step, significant challenges remain in distribution and administration due to Congo’s vast size and limited health infrastructure. The Africa CDC is developing a unified response plan to be presented to African leaders in September. This situation underscores the ongoing need for global health equity and improved preparedness for future outbreaks.