Congolese health officials launched their first mpox vaccination campaign on Saturday, marking a significant step in efforts to contain an outbreak that has spread from its epicenter in the Democratic Republic of Congo to numerous other African nations this year.
At a ceremony held at a hospital in the eastern city of Goma, health workers were among the first to receive the vaccine doses. The event symbolizes hope for a nation that has been grappling with the spread of the disease.
However, the Health Ministry has warned that the campaign’s reach will be limited due to scarce resources. Currently, only 265,000 vaccine doses are available, though additional supplies are expected in the future.
The commencement of vaccinations begins to address a significant inequity that left African countries without access to the two shots used to combat a 2022 global mpox outbreak, while they were widely available in Europe and the United States.
“The rollout of the vaccine marks an important step in limiting the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of families and communities,” said Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, in a statement.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, can spread through close contact and typically causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body. While usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases.
In August, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after a new variant was identified.
Since the start of 2024, Congo has reported more than 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases and 990 deaths—accounting for 90 percent of the cases reported from Africa so far this year, according to the WHO.
The limited vaccination campaign underscores the challenges faced by countries with fewer resources in combating infectious diseases. As the global community continues to navigate public health crises, the situation in Congo highlights the importance of equitable vaccine distribution.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
