WHO Africa reported in October 2024 that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has started a vaccination campaign as part of outbreak control efforts against mpox. The vaccination drive has launched in the eastern North Kivu province and will prioritise health workers and frontline responders, contacts of confirmed cases, contacts of those contacts, and other at-risk groups. It will later be implemented in 11 of the most affected health zones in Equateur, North Kivu, Sankiri, South Kivu, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshopo provinces.
Addressing the emergency
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported more than 30,000 suspected and laboratory-confirmed cases and 990 deaths since the start of 2024. These numbers account for 90% of the cases reported from 15 countries in the African region this year. WHO recommends that vaccination should form part of a “comprehensive response” involving enhanced surveillance, community engagement, and case management. It is working with partners and the national authorities to “scale up and reinforce all the key control measures”.
In preparation for the mpox vaccination campaign, WHO has supported national health authorities in training health workers, enhancing vaccine delivery systems and infrastructure, and community engagement. There are also efforts to “reinforce measures to identify and address” vaccine misinformation and disinformation, responding with increased access to accurate information.
Delivering doses to affected areas
Noting that mpox vaccines are “currently in short supply, especially in Africa”, WHO is encouraging global collaboration to get doses to the people who need them most. In September, WHO prequalified MVA-BN for mpox, which is “expected to facilitate timely and increased access”. It is also working with partners like Gavi and UNICEF to establish a distribution mechanism for donated doses and direct procurements. DRC has received 265,000 doses of MVA-BN, donated by the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, Gavi, and the United States Government.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, expressed gratitude to these partners for their donations.
“As we rally efforts to stop the mpox outbreak, the rollout of the vaccine marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities.”
Dr Moeti commented that WHO is “working closely with the national authorities to effectively deliver the vaccines to those who need them most”. Africa CDC also recognised the collaborative effort, which “underscores the collective global commitment” to controlling the outbreak in Africa. H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General, commended the DRC’s “swift action” in launching the campaign, which “showcases the strength of its public health leadership”.
“By prioritising vulnerable populations, including frontline health workers and those most at risk, the country is taking critical steps to contain the outbreak. Africa CDC remains committed to working closely with the DRC to ensure vaccines reach those who need them the most, while also working to strengthen health systems to prevent future outbreaks. Our top priority is to secure safe and effective vaccines for children in the next phase of vaccination.”
Mpox vaccination will be a key area of high-level discussions at the Congress in Washington next April, including on a keynote panel that will consider the “role of vaccines in a changing world”. Get your tickets to join us for these conversations, and don’t forget to subscribe to weekly vaccine updates here.
