The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to begin its mpox vaccination campaign on October 2, nearly a week ahead of the previously planned date, in a push to curb the outbreak of the deadly virus. The campaign was initially scheduled for October 8, following the country’s first delivery of mpox vaccines last week. However, the head of the outbreak response, Cris Kacita, said Wednesday that streamlined procedures have allowed for the earlier start.
The DRC is the epicenter of a global mpox outbreak that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared a global public health emergency. Until now, efforts to contain the virus have been hindered by a shortage of vaccines. The vaccination campaign will last for 10 days, targeting adults, including healthcare professionals, park rangers, and sex workers, across six provinces in the country.
Kacita acknowledged the ongoing efforts to address vaccine hesitancy in some communities, while also tackling the logistical challenge of rolling out the vaccination program in a country the size of Western Europe.
The DRC recently received 50,000 vaccine doses donated by the United States, with U.S. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn confirming the delivery on X (formerly Twitter). In total, the country has obtained 265,000 doses from the U.S. and the European Union. However, Kacita noted that this supply would not be enough to cover all affected areas.
“There have been promises from France and Belgium, and the number of doses is expected to be known within the week,” Kacita said. Japan has also pledged to donate 3.5 million doses of a vaccine that could be administered to children, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus. Discussions regarding the distribution of these doses are still ongoing.
The mpox outbreak has caused global concern due to its rapid spread and potential lethality, particularly in vulnerable populations. Congo’s accelerated vaccination effort is a critical step in containing the virus and preventing further deaths.