In a joint effort to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, (CDC), CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO have announced the allocation of 899,000 vaccine doses for nine African countries.
The targeted countries include the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.
In a joint statement released by the organisations on Wednesday, approximately 85% of the doses will be sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been the hardest hit, reporting four out of five confirmed cases in Africa this year.
“This allocation is crucial for effectively managing the outbreaks and supporting the most affected nations,” stated Dr. John Nkengasong, Africa CDC Director.
The decision, driven by a Technical Review Committee, emphasises responding to the urgent health crisis as mpox was declared a public health emergency by WHO and Africa CDC in August, particularly due to the surge of the viral strain clade Ib.
Vaccination is a key component of a broader mpox response that also includes testing, effective clinical care, and community engagement. “We must engage affected communities to ensure that vaccination efforts are effective and culturally appropriate,” stressed Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director-General.
Limited vaccination efforts have begun in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, with additional resources needed for wider rollouts. “Further allocations are anticipated, signalling our commitment to curb the mpox infection,” added Dr. Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO, underlining the importance of coordinated global health efforts.
