The launch of the much-anticipated mpox vaccination campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been postponed due to logistical challenges, as confirmed by health officials on Wednesday.
Chris Kasita, director of the Department of Infection Prevention (PEV), emphasized the need for specialized transportation equipment required to distribute the vaccine across various regions of the country. “We are facing issues with logistics, but authorities are working diligently to ensure that the vaccine is delivered on time. We will announce a new start date as soon as possible,” Kasita stated.
The delay comes amid a concerning surge in mpox cases in Congo, where the total number of infections has reached 26,267 since the beginning of the year. The World Health Organization and the Congolese Health Ministry report that the outbreak has also led to 833 fatalities, raising alarms about the urgent need for vaccination.
Despite rising fears of further infections and the potential impact on public health, officials have yet to set a revised date for the campaign. Originally scheduled to commence in Kinshasa, the capital city, the initiative was also expected to target the most affected areas in eastern Congo, particularly North Kivu, as well as southern and central regions.
Congo has emerged as the epicenter of the mpox outbreak in Africa, which has now spread to 14 countries, including Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, and the Central African Republic. This alarming situation has prompted the African Union Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to intensify monitoring efforts and support vaccination initiatives across the continent.
In preparation for the campaign, Congo received 265,000 doses of the mpox vaccine last month from the European Union and the United States. These vaccines were manufactured by the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic. Health officials are hopeful that once logistical issues are resolved, the vaccination campaign can begin, ultimately helping to curb the spread of mpox and protect vulnerable populations across the nation.
