By Grace Q. Bryant
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the allocation of 899,000 mpox vaccine doses to nine African countries hardest hit by the current outbreak.
This effort is part of the Access and Allocation Mechanism (A.A.M.) for mpox, designed to curb the spread of the disease.
The largest share of the vaccine, 85%, will go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), where the outbreak is most severe.
More than 38,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 deaths have been reported in the country this year.
The D.R.C. and neighboring nations have been battling an uptick in infections, particularly the viral strain clade Ib, prompting the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern in August.
In total, 19 African nations have reported m-pox cases in 2024, with the worst affected including the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.
The vaccines, sourced from Canada, the U.S., the E.U., and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will be distributed to these countries to help control the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
Vaccination efforts have already begun in Congo and Rwanda, with additional doses expected to arrive before the end of the year.
As mpox is spread through close contact and can cause a range of symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and a rash, the vaccination campaign is a crucial step in controlling the epidemic.
A new research initiative by University College Dublin examines immune responses to the m-pox vaccine, focusing on how it can be effectively used in outbreak settings.
The allocation of these vaccine doses marks a significant milestone in global efforts to contain m-pox and protect the most vulnerable populations in Africa.
