Africa Set to Roll Out Mpox Vaccinations as Cases Surge

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) has announced that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other affected countries will soon receive mpox vaccine doses, paving the way for vaccination campaigns to begin within days.

Credit: Africa CDC

The move comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of the new mpox strain a public health emergency of international concern last week. The DRC, the epicenter of the outbreak, has reported over 90% of the almost 19,000 cases in Africa since the start of 2024.

Vaccine doses are expected to arrive shortly, thanks to pledges from the European Union, Bavarian Nordic, the United States, and Japan. The ACDC has been working closely with affected countries to ensure seamless logistics and communication strategies for the rollout.

Credit: Africa CDC

Director General Jean Kaseya emphasized the importance of proper preparation to guarantee safe storage and correct administration of the vaccines. Mpox, which causes fever, muscle aches, and boil-like skin lesions, can be fatal and is spread through close contact with infected individuals.

With the vaccine rollout imminent, Africa is taking a crucial step towards containing the spread of mpox and mitigating its impact on affected communities.