Paris, France – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been dealt a setback in its fight against the mpox outbreak, with the first shipment of vaccines expected to be delayed. This news comes as the country grapples with a new variant of the virus and a rising death toll.
Cris Kacita, head of the DRC’s mpox response team, confirmed on Monday that the initial vaccine delivery, initially anticipated this week, would not arrive as planned. Regulatory hurdles remain, with the Congolese pharmaceutical agency needing to contact Bavarian Nordic, the Danish manufacturer, for guidance before the vaccines can be shipped.
“There are still several processes to follow,” Kacita told Reuters. “So we’re waiting.”
The delay is a source of frustration for the DRC, which has been battling a mpox outbreak since January 2023. According to government figures, there have been over 27,000 suspected cases and a staggering 1,100 deaths, primarily affecting children. This highlights the stark inequity in vaccine access, with mpox vaccines readily available in Europe and the United States, while African countries continue to struggle.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Bavarian Nordic, one of the few companies currently producing an mpox vaccine, announced in mid-August that it has the capacity to manufacture 10 million doses by the end of 2025. Additionally, they can currently supply up to 2 million doses in 2024.
The arrival of these vaccines would be a significant step forward for the DRC and other African nations battling mpox outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency on August 14th, underscoring the urgency of containing the spread of the virus.
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