Hope for DRC as mpox vaccines en route amid outbreak

By Ezekiel David

As the country deals with an increase in cases amid a worldwide health emergency, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to receive its first shipment of mpox vaccines as early as next week.

Pledges of support from the United States and Japan offer a beacon of hope in addressing the vaccine inequity that has plagued Africa’s response to the outbreak.

“We’ve just finished discussions with USAID and the U.S. government… I hope that by next week we’ll be able to see the vaccines arrive,” announced DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

This crucial step follows the World Health Organisation’s recent declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency, spurred by the rapid spread of the new clade Ib variant across Africa. While vaccines were readily available in wealthier nations during the 2022 outbreak, African countries were left vulnerable without access.

In order to guarantee a coordinated response, Japan has pledged to supply the DRC with medical supplies and mpox vaccines while working with the World Health Organisation and other international partners. Furthermore, the international vaccine alliance Gavi has committed to providing up to $500 million in support of immunisation campaigns in the most affected countries.

“Gavi has offered to make the vaccines available and we agreed,” confirmed Minister Mulamba, highlighting the DRC’s proactive approach to combating the outbreak.

(Source: Reuters)