Rwanda has become the first African nation to launch a vaccination campaign against mpox, marking a crucial step in the continent’s fight against the disease.
As of Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 300 doses of the vaccine were administered to high-risk individuals in a region bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Local Vaccine Production
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), confirmed the campaign’s launch, emphasizing the need to quickly contain the outbreak.
“This outbreak must be stopped very quickly,” Kaseya stated, while also highlighting efforts to boost local vaccine production.
“We are working closely with manufacturers and partners to ensure these vaccines are produced in Africa,” he added.
The initial phase of Rwanda’s vaccination rollout is targeting health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality staff, and other high-risk populations.
The DRC remains the epicenter of Africa’s mpox outbreak, with 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths reported in the past week alone.
Since January, the DRC has recorded 6,105 cases and 738 deaths. The DRC is expected to begin its own vaccination efforts in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and additional supplies pledged by European countries.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has called for increased global cooperation to combat the virus.
“International collaboration and support are needed to stop the spread of the virus,” Ghebreyesus posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Other African nations, including Nigeria, have also received vaccine donations.
In August, the United States, through USAID, provided Nigeria with 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to support efforts in containing the outbreak.
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