Authorities in Congo say the primary batch of mpox vaccine has arrived in Congo’s capital, three weeks after the World Well being Group declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations a world emergency
KINSHASA, Congo — The primary batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congo’s capital on Thursday, the nation’s authorities stated, three weeks after the World Well being Group declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations a world emergency.
The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN vaccine, manufactured by the Danish firm Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union via HERA, the bloc’s company for well being emergencies. One other 100,000 are anticipated to be delivered on Saturday, the Congolese authorities stated.
UNICEF goes to be in command of the vaccination marketing campaign in probably the most impacted provinces, Congo’s Well being Minister Roger Kamba informed reporters after the supply of the vaccine. Nevertheless it remained unclear when the vaccination drive would start.
About 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines have been promised by Western companions such because the European Union and the USA, Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, informed reporters final week. That’s lower than 15% of the three million doses authorities have stated are wanted to finish the mpox outbreaks in Congo, the epicenter of the worldwide well being emergency.
Mpox, often known as monkeypox, had been spreading principally undetected for years in Africa earlier than the illness prompted the 2022 outbreak in additional than 70 nations, Dr. Dimie Ogoina, the chair of WHO’s mpox emergency committee informed reporters final month.
