Democratic Republic of Congo health authorities launched the first Mpox vaccination campaign. The campaign started on Saturday in Goma, aiming to stop the virus from spreading further across African countries this year.
The campaign vaccinates healthcare workers first, with the initial doses given during a ceremony. African countries struggled to get vaccines during the 2022 global outbreak, while Europe and the U.S. had an ample supply.
Although the vaccination rollout marks a crucial step, Congo’s Health Ministry acknowledges the campaign’s limited scope due to resource shortages. With only 265,000 doses currently on hand, more supplies are expected in the coming months.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s Africa director, praised the campaign, stating, “This vaccine rollout is a significant move in preventing the spread of the virus and safeguarding communities.”
Mpox, transmitted through close contact, causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, and while often mild, it can be deadly in rare cases. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency in August, following the emergence of a new virus strain.
Congo has been one of the hardest-hit nations, recording over 30,000 suspected and confirmed cases of Mpox and nearly 1,000 deaths in 2024 alone. This accounts for 90% of Africa’s Mpox cases, according to WHO data.
