Congo initiates mpox vaccinations to combat outbreaks

Congolese officials have initiated a vaccination campaign against mpox in Goma, nearly two months following the global emergency declaration by the World Health Organization due to the disease’s outbreak. The efforts involve administering 265,000 donated doses from the European Union and the U.S. in Goma, located in North Kivu province, where health facilities and workers have been under strain handling the new strain of mpox.

Congo has seen over 30,000 suspected cases of mpox and 859 deaths, representing a substantial portion of the cases and deaths reported in Africa this year. While the majority of infections and fatalities in Congo are among children under 15, the vaccinations are designated for adults in high-risk groups and frontline workers, as specified by Health Minister Roger Kamba.

Health Minister’s chief of staff, Muboyayi ChikayaI, emphasized the implementation of strategies to vaccinate all targeted individuals during the launch of the vaccination campaign. Additionally, the country is expecting 3 million doses of a vaccine approved for children from Japan in the near future.

Previously undetected for years in Africa, mpox, or monkeypox, led to the 2022 global outbreak, prompting swift responses from wealthier countries compared to Africa’s limited access to doses. Dr. Dimie Ogoina of the World Health Organization highlighted the shift in transmission of mpox in Africa, including sexual and close contact among various vulnerable groups.

Africa has witnessed over 34,000 suspected cases and 866 deaths from mpox across 16 countries this year, marking a significant surge compared to the same period last year. Despite the increase, vaccine accessibility remains a challenge, with the continent securing commitment for only 5.9 million doses expected from October to December, according to Dr. Jean Kaseya of the Africa CDC.

During the vaccination drive in Goma, WHO Representative Dr. Jean Bruno Kibunda expressed concerns about the potential for a major outbreak in North Kivu province due to the circumstances in displaced camps amidst a significant humanitarian crisis caused by armed violence.

The vaccination program has brought relief to many in Congo, particularly within hospitals that have been grappling with containing the outbreak. Dr. Musole Mulambamunva Robert, the medical director of Kavumu Hospital, stressed the importance of widespread vaccination to halt the disease’s spread in the region.

Eastern Congo has long faced conflict, with numerous armed groups competing for control in the resource-rich area near the Rwandan border. The region has experienced mass killings perpetrated by some of these groups.