DRC receives first batch of US donated Mpox vaccine

The Democratic Republic of the Congo received the first batch of Mpox vaccines from the US, following a similar batch donated by the European Union as the country continues to battle the virus.

The 50,000 doses donated by the US will go to the three worst affected provinces of Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru, authorities said.

Last week, Kinshasa authorities said they received 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic and donated by the EU through HERA, the bloc’s agency for health emergencies.

Another 100,000 were delivered over the weekend. In total, DRC has received 250,000 doses, a fraction of the 3 million jabs authorities said are needed to contain the virus.

Mpox cases in DRC account for 91% of the 5549 cases confirmed in the continent since the start of 2024.

Frail health infrastructure, staff shortage, and infighting in the DRC’s east, where the virus epicenter is located, have complicated efforts to contain the virus.