Mpox Vaccination Campaign In Congo: First Batch Of 1 Lakh Doses Reach Africa

The first batch of mpox vaccines has arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the region which has become the centre of the deadly mpox outbreak.

The first batch of one lakh vaccines have reached the region on the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Congo has been facing the brunt of mpox outbreak and majority of the cases in Africa are from there. In an attempt to contain the spread of mpox the UN along with its bodies WHO and Africa CDC had announced that they will be inoculating the people of Africa through vaccines. The first batch of vaccines has reached the region and the vaccination campaign has also begun. The WHO has also promised to deliver more vaccines in the region as one lakh doses are not nearly enough. Congo has a population of 100 million people and is at the centre of the outbreak. Vaccines are there only hope, report officials.

As per reports from an August 27 update from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Mpox disease has been reported in at least 13 African countries. Among the 13 countries, COngo has reported maximum cases as well as fatalities making th4 region an epicentre of mpox outbreak. It is therefore imperative that mpox inoculation begins from that region. While speaking to the media, Congo's Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba said about the newly arrived vaccine had already proved its worth in the United States and would be rolled out to adults in DR Congo. "We know which provinces are heavily affected, notably Equateur and South Kivu. The idea is to contain the virus as quickly as possible," he added.

According to media reports , the mpox vaccines received by Congo come from Bavarian Nordic, a Danish pharmaceutical laboratory. This vaccine is currently the only one approved for use in Europe and the United States, and is only available for adults. However, the company is conducting trials to explore its potential use in children over the age of 12.