DR Congo awaits first delivery of Mpox vaccines amid ongoing outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to receive its first batch of vaccines against Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, this Thursday.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, developed by Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, departed Copenhagen on Wednesday night and are expected to arrive in Kinshasa.

The Congolese Ministry of Health plans to begin distribution as early as this weekend.

During a press briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the shipment’s imminent arrival, stating, “The WHO is working tirelessly with its partners to ensure vaccines reach the countries in need.”

This delivery comes as the DRC battles a severe outbreak of Mpox, with over 19,000 cases and more than 650 deaths reported since the beginning of the year, according to the country’s health ministry.

The eastern region of the DRC remains the hardest hit, recording over 5,000 cases.

In response to the crisis, the WHO, in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has implemented a continent-wide response plan that includes vaccination, enhanced surveillance, and public communication strategies.

However, Dr. Tedros emphasized that “vaccines alone will not be enough to stop these outbreaks,” calling for a comprehensive approach to curb the virus’s spread.

Last month, the WHO declared the Mpox outbreak a global health emergency, underscoring the urgent need for international mobilization.

This declaration followed the identification of a new variant of the virus, clade 1b, circulating in eastern DRC.

This less-documented variant presents new challenges for both local and international health authorities.

Crucial Logistical Support

Beyond the vaccine delivery, the WHO has pledged additional support to strengthen the DRC’s healthcare infrastructure.

This includes establishing cold chain systems to maintain optimal vaccine storage conditions and launching awareness campaigns to combat misinformation about the virus and vaccination efforts.

“We are grateful for the continuous support from the European Union,” Dr. Tedros said, urging other nations with vaccine supplies to follow suit and collaborate with the UN to address the urgent needs of the most affected countries.

With the arrival of these vaccines, the DRC hopes to slow the spread of Mpox, particularly among children, who account for more than half of the confirmed cases.

The international community’s support is seen as critical in the DRC’s fight against the ongoing epidemic, as health officials continue to navigate the complexities of this multifaceted health crisis.