DR Congo will not receive mpox vaccines this week, Health News reports

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will not be receiving its first round of mpox vaccines this week as initially hoped. Cris Kacita, head of the country’s response team, stated that there are still processes to follow before the vaccines can be delivered. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that the virus can still be contained with a coordinated response, despite the recent global public health emergency declaration. The DRC had previously expressed optimism about receiving vaccine deliveries this week after promises of assistance from Japan and the United States. Germany has pledged to donate 100,000 vaccine doses to help combat the outbreak. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 21,300 suspected or confirmed cases and 590 deaths across 12 African nations. The WHO is increasing its staffing in affected countries and has announced a six-month plan to improve access to vaccines and response efforts, requiring $135 million in funding. Strategic vaccination efforts will target high-risk individuals, including close contacts of cases and healthcare workers, to break the chains of transmission. A funding appeal will be launched soon to support these efforts.

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