1st Batch Of Mpox Vaccine Arrives In Congo’s Capital

New Delhi, India: The first batch of 100,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine arrived in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, on Thursday, marking a crucial step in the fight against the ongoing outbreak. This delivery comes three weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.

The vaccines, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, were donated by the European Union through HERA, the EU's agency for health emergencies. An additional 100,000 doses are expected to arrive on Saturday, according to Congolese authorities.

UNICEF will spearhead the vaccination campaign in the most affected provinces, as announced by Congo's Health Minister Roger Kamba. However, the start date for the vaccination drive has not yet been confirmed.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported last week that Western partners, including the European Union and the United States, have committed to providing approximately 380,000 doses. This is significantly less than the 3 million doses estimated to be necessary to control the outbreaks in Congo, which is currently at the epicenter of this global health crisis.

Mpox, or monkeypox, had largely been an unnoticed issue in Africa before a 2022 outbreak spread to over 70 countries. Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO's Mpox emergency committee, highlighted the disease's extended presence in Africa before its more recent global spread.