The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has announced that it will no longer receive its first shipment of mpox vaccines this week. This decision comes as global health authorities assess that the spread of the disease may still be under control.
Cris Kacita, the leader of the country’s response team, told Reuters, “No. There are still several processes that need to be followed,” in response to questions about whether the DRC would begin receiving doses this week. He added that the Congolese pharmaceutical regulatory authority must first consult with the Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic for guidance before the vaccines can arrive. “So we are waiting,” said Kacita.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement on Monday clarifying that the virus can still be prevented from spreading further, but it requires a coordinated effort. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled, and they can be stopped.”
This statement comes as health authorities struggle to contain the virus, which the WHO has declared a global health emergency for the second time in two years. While the majority of reported cases are in the DRC, other countries in Asia and Europe have also noted cases.
On August 19, the DRC’s Minister of Health expressed optimism that the country could start receiving vaccine shipments this week, following pledges of assistance from Japan and the United States. German government representative Steffen Hebestreit announced on Monday that the country would donate 100,000 vaccine doses, while the DRC reported over 1,000 new mpox cases last week.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases and 590 deaths have been recorded this year across 12 African countries as of Thursday. The WHO stated that it would “significantly” increase its personnel in the affected countries as part of a six-month plan announced on Monday, aiming to ensure greater access to vaccines and improve prevention as well as response efforts.
The WHO noted that strategic vaccination efforts would focus on individuals at the highest risk, including close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to break transmission chains. The organization added that the plan would require $135 million in funding, and a funding appeal “will be launched soon.”