Congo Welcomes First Mpox Vaccine Shipment; More Needed to Combat Outbreak

The first shipment of the mpox vaccine arrived in Congo's capital on Thursday, according to local authorities. This delivery comes three weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations a global emergency. The 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, produced by Danish company Bavarian Nordic, were donated by the European Union through HERA, its health emergencies agency. Another 100,000 doses are expected on Saturday.

Vaccination Campaign and Challenges

UNICEF will oversee the vaccination campaign in the most affected provinces, stated Congo's Health Minister Roger Kamba. However, the start date for the vaccination drive remains uncertain. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), mentioned that about 380,000 doses have been promised by Western partners like the EU and the United States. This is significantly less than the 3 million doses needed to control the outbreak in Congo.

The WHO reported that since early 2024, Congo has seen over 4,900 confirmed mpox cases and more than 629 deaths. This marks a significant increase in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years. Most infections occur in children under 15 years old.

Global Response and Local Needs

Following the global mpox outbreak in 2022, wealthier nations quickly utilised their vaccine stockpiles. However, Africa has received only a small number of doses despite urgent requests from its governments. The MVA-BN vaccine has already been used in Europe and the US and is authorised for adults. The European Medicines Agency is reviewing data to potentially extend its use to children aged 12 to 17 by month's end.

Laurent Muschel, Director-General of HERA, confirmed that 215,000 doses were pledged and purchased specifically for donation to Congo. Mercy Muthee Laker from the Red Cross and Red Crescent praised Congo's efforts but noted that the promised doses are insufficient given the high demand on the ground.

Logistical and Financial Hurdles

Experts predict it will take weeks before vaccines are administered due to financial constraints and logistical challenges in distributing them across Congo's vast territory with limited health infrastructure. Last week, the US donated 10,000 mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria, marking the first known donation to Africa amid current outbreaks. Nigeria has reported 40 cases this year.

Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's mpox emergency committee, explained that mpox had been spreading undetected in Africa for years before causing a global outbreak in 2022 across more than 70 countries. "What we are witnessing in Africa now is different from the global outbreak in 2022," he said. While last year's outbreak mainly affected gay and bisexual men, current transmissions in Africa occur through sexual contact and close interactions among children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.

Most people over 50 likely received smallpox vaccinations which may offer some protection against mpox. However, Africa's predominantly young population remains largely susceptible to the virus.

The Africa CDC is developing a unified response plan for these outbreaks. This plan will be presented to African heads of state at a meeting scheduled for September.

These vaccines are crucial for protecting health workers and vulnerable populations while curbing mpox spread," Kaseya emphasised on Thursday.