Rwanda has officially launched a vaccination campaign against mpox, employing 1,000 doses obtained from Nigeria under a collaborative agreement between the two nations, according to a statement from the African health agency on Thursday. This initiative began on Tuesday and is strategically targeting seven districts identified as having high-risk populations adjacent to Congo, as noted by Dr. Nicaise Ndembi from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The doses were part of a larger shipment of 10,000 that Nigeria received from the United States, reflecting international cooperation in addressing health crises.
Congo has been at the forefront of the mpox outbreak in Africa, with alarming statistics showing 2,912 new cases and 14 fatalities reported in the past week alone. This surge brings the total number of cases to 6,105, alongside 738 deaths since the beginning of the year. Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of Africa CDC, emphasized the pressing need to contain the outbreak swiftly, underscoring the potential for further spread if timely measures are not implemented.
In light of the escalating situation, Rwanda and several other countries are now seeking more vaccine doses than originally anticipated. African health experts have estimated that around 10 million doses may be necessary continent-wide to effectively manage and curb the ongoing outbreaks. The Japanese government has stepped up by agreeing to provide 3 million doses of the mpox vaccine to support Congo’s vaccination efforts.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called on more nations to contribute to the global response, stressing that “international collaboration and support are needed to stop the spread of the virus.” This appeal reflects the urgency of a coordinated approach to public health challenges that transcend borders.
Congo is set to begin its own vaccination campaign in the first week of October, having received 165,000 doses so far, with additional commitments from European countries to bolster their efforts. Dr. Kaseya pointed out the critical importance of establishing local vaccine production capabilities in Africa, highlighting ongoing collaborations with manufacturers to ensure that vaccines can be produced within the continent, thereby enhancing self-sufficiency in health responses.
In a landmark decision, the WHO recently announced its first authorization for the use of an mpox vaccine for adults, marking a significant advancement in the fight against the disease in Africa. This approval enables key organizations like Gavi and UNICEF to procure the vaccine, although supplies are currently limited due to the presence of only one manufacturer. The successful rollout of this vaccine is seen as an essential step toward controlling the mpox outbreak and safeguarding public health across the continent.
