The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is set to receive its initial shipment of mpox vaccines as early as next week, according to Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba. This development follows commitments from the United States and Japan to aid the country in managing its ongoing outbreak.
Last week, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency, marking the second declaration in two years, driven by the rapid spread of a new variant, clade Ib, particularly in Africa.
During a press conference, Minister Mulamba highlighted that discussions with USAID and the U.S. government had concluded, expressing optimism about the vaccines’ imminent arrival. This support from international partners is seen as a crucial step toward rectifying the significant disparity observed during the 2022 global mpox outbreak, where African nations had limited access to vaccines that were otherwise available in Europe and the United States.
Furthermore, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed plans to supply the DRC with mpox vaccines and necessary medical supplies in collaboration with the World Health Organization and other stakeholders. Masano Tsuzuki, a representative of the ministry, emphasized Japan’s commitment to providing extensive support.
The vaccines expected in the Congo are produced by Japan-based KM Biologics and Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic, which manufactures Jynneos. Despite the prevalence of mpox in Africa for decades, these vaccines have not been previously available outside of clinical trials in the continent.
The global vaccine alliance Gavi announced last week its readiness to allocate up to $500 million to distribute vaccines to nations affected by the escalating mpox crisis in Africa, a move welcomed by Congo’s health minister.
Mpox is known for causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. While it is generally mild, it can be fatal. The DRC is currently grappling with two strains of the virus: the endemic clade I and the newer clade Ib variant. The virus primarily spreads through close physical contact, including sexual contact, distinguishing it from airborne pandemics like COVID-19.
