Congo to Receive Mpox Vaccine Doses with Aid from US and Japan

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to receive its first doses of mpox vaccine by next week, thanks to commitments from the United States and Japan, Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba announced on Monday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years last week, following the rapid spread of a new variant, clade Ib, across Africa.

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In a news conference, Minister Kamba Mulamba revealed that Japan and the United States have pledged to provide vaccines to the DRC. “We’ve just finished discussions with USAID and the U.S. government… I hope that by next week we’ll be able to see the vaccines arrive,” Kamba Mulamba told reporters.

The arrival of these vaccines is crucial for addressing the significant inequity faced by African countries, which had limited access to the vaccines during the 2022 global mpox outbreak, while they were more readily available in Europe and the United States.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed in a statement to Reuters that it is preparing to supply Congo with mpox vaccines and needles, in collaboration with the WHO and other partners.

Key Points:

1. Upcoming Vaccine Delivery: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to receive its first doses of the mpox vaccine by next week, following pledges from the United States and Japan.
2. WHO Emergency Declaration: The World Health Organization recently declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years due to the spread of a new variant, clade Ib, in Africa.
3. US and Japan Support: Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba announced that Japan and the United States have committed to supplying vaccines to the DRC.
4. Vaccine Inequity Addressed: The arrival of these vaccines will address previous inequities, as African countries had limited access to mpox vaccines during the 2022 outbreak compared to Europe and the US.
5. Japan’s Role: Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed it is preparing to provide the DRC with mpox vaccines and needles, in cooperation with the WHO and other partners.