The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday received its first shipment of Mpox vaccines, marking a significant step in the fight against the outbreak.
The initial batch, nearly half of the 200,000 doses donated by the European Union (EU), arrived at Kinshasa airport.
The vaccines will be stored until a vaccination campaign begins later this month. The DRC has reported over 19,000 Mpox cases and more than 650 deaths.
Mpox, a virus transmitted through close contact with infected animals or humans, can cause severe symptoms.
The EU, through its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), is contributing a total of 560,000 doses to the DRC and other affected countries.
The remaining doses of the first 200,000 are scheduled to arrive on September 7, 2024.
This vaccine delivery comes in response to the World Health Organization’s emergency declaration on August 14, 2024, regarding the spread of the new Clade 1b strain of Mpox in the DRC and neighboring regions.
The vaccines, produced by Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, are the only ones approved for use in Europe and the US and are intended for adults.
