D.R. Congo Receives First Shipment of Mpox Vaccines

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Friday, September 6, 2024. In a crucial step towards curbing the growing Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have announced the arrival of the first batch of 99,100 doses of the JYNNEOS Mpox vaccine. This initial shipment marks the launch of a vital vaccination campaign aimed at controlling the surge in infections across the country.

The DRC’s Minister of Health, Samuel Roger Kamba, officially received the vaccine doses alongside key international stakeholders, including H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC; Grant Leaity, UNICEF Representative in DRC; and Laurent Muschel, Director General of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) at the European Commission.

Since the beginning of 2024, the DRC has documented over 4,901 confirmed Mpox cases, with more than 629 related fatalities. This alarming rise in both cases and deaths underscores the urgency of the situation. The introduction of the JYNNEOS vaccine offers a decisive opportunity to slow down the outbreak and safeguard vulnerable populations, especially healthcare workers and those at higher risk.

Related: Monkeypox: How it spreads and who is at risk?

Following the declaration of Mpox as a Public Health Emergency on 13 August 2024, the call for international aid to secure vaccines was rapidly answered. As part of the response, an additional 100,900 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine are set to arrive by 7 September 2024, bringing the total available doses in the country to 200,000 by the end of the week.

Related: Nigeria Receives First Mpox Vaccine Shipment in Africa

“This shipment of nearly 100,000 doses is essential for protecting frontline health workers and high-risk groups. We are grateful for the strong collaboration between Africa CDC, the European Union’s HERA, and Bavarian Nordic in making this happen,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya. “We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in our mission to control this outbreak.”

Minister of Health Samuel Roger Kamba echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of these vaccines in protecting the Congolese people, particularly children. “Our priority is to continue working with our partners to ensure a healthy future for all.”

Laurent Muschel, head of HERA, noted, “This timely delivery of vaccines is just the first step in Team Europe’s comprehensive global response to this crisis.”

Grant Leaity of UNICEF highlighted the importance of reaching at-risk populations: “These vaccines are crucial in safeguarding communities, especially health workers. We remain committed to supporting the DRC’s Ministry of Public Health in the distribution and administration of these vaccines to the most vulnerable.”

Mpox is a preventable disease, and the JYNNEOS vaccine has proven highly effective in reducing transmission and severe complications. The DRC Ministry of Health, alongside UNICEF, continues to assess the need for expanding vaccination coverage to children and adolescents, ensuring that all at-risk groups are adequately protected.

Source: Africa CDC

Published: September 6, 2024

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