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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has announced that it will not be receiving its first delivery of mpox vaccines this week, as initially hoped. The spread of the virus, which has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), is still ongoing. The Congolese pharmaceutical regulatory agency must first consult with Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic before the vaccines can be received.
While the majority of cases are concentrated in the DRC, other countries in Asia and Europe have also reported cases of mpox. The WHO has stated that the outbreak can still be controlled and stopped with a coordinated response. As part of this effort, the German government has pledged to donate 100,000 vaccine doses to the DRC.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases of mpox in 12 African nations, with 590 deaths reported this year. The WHO is increasing its staffing in affected countries as part of a six-month plan that will require $135 million in funding. The plan will focus on vaccinating those at the highest risk, including close contacts of recent cases and healthcare workers, to interrupt the transmission of the virus. A funding appeal for the plan will be launched shortly.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
DR Congo’s expected delivery of mpox vaccines this week has been canceled | Health News
