Kenya is among the nine African countries allocated MPOX vaccine doses to combat the recent surge of the disease on the continent. The Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) has designated 899,000 doses of the vaccine for these nations.
This allocation comes as part of a coordinated effort between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and various partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and UNICEF, to manage the ongoing MPOX outbreaks. The distribution strategy aims to use the limited vaccine supply effectively, targeting countries with the highest need based on readiness and the extent of the outbreak.
In addition to Kenya, other affected countries receiving the vaccines include the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been hit hardest by the outbreak, will receive the largest share of the vaccines, accounting for 85% of the total supply due to its significant number of confirmed cases.
So far this year, MPOX has been reported in 19 African nations, with the epicenter remaining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 38,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths have been recorded. In Kenya, 13 confirmed cases have been reported, with one fatality, across various regions, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru.
Vaccination is part of a broader strategy to control the disease, alongside efforts to improve testing, clinical care, and community engagement. The vaccination rollout, expected to continue into 2024, will be phased, starting with high-risk individuals.
MPOX, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease that spreads through contact with infected individuals, animals, or contaminated materials. While most people recover fully, some cases can be severe.
