Mpox vaccination rollout in Africa amid European preparations
A test tube labelled "mpox virus positive" is held in this illustration taken Aug. 20, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
Vaccination against mpox is set to begin within days in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected African countries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). This initiative follows recent pledges from the European Union, vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic, the United States, and Japan to supply vaccines to the continent.
Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, highlighted the critical need for proper vaccine storage and administration. The Africa CDC is working closely with affected nations to manage logistics and communication strategies for effective vaccine distribution.
This announcement comes shortly after the World Health Organization and the Africa CDC declared mpox a public health emergency of international and continental concern. Recent figures from the Africa CDC report 17,541 mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for 96% of the cases and 97% of the deaths reported in 2024.
Meanwhile, European authorities are monitoring the situation closely. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk of mpox in Europe as low but has urged preparedness for potential imported cases. Orlando Cenciarelli, an ECDC expert, noted that while the overall risk to the European population is currently considered low, vigilance is necessary due to possible importations, such as the single case reported in Sweden on August 15.
The ECDC recommends that the mpox vaccine be administered only to individuals at high risk, including those who are exposed to the virus or traveling to affected regions. The organization emphasizes that while the general risk remains low, secondary transmission should be actively prevented.
In response to the outbreak, the World Health Organization declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” on August 14, emphasizing the need for coordinated global action to contain the virus.
