DR Congo begins mpox vaccination in high-priority provinces

The Ministry of Public Health and Prevention, supported by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, on Saturday started vaccinating vulnerable groups against mpox in high-priority provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

A total of 265,000 doses of the MVA-BN mpox vaccine arrived in Kinshasa in September, donated by the European Union, the Government of the United States and Gavi with support from Africa CDC.

UNICEF organized the shipment, customs clearance and delivery of the vaccines to DRC, the in-country storage and onward transport of the vaccines to Equateur, Sud Ubangi, Tshopo, North Kivu, South Kivu and Sankuru provinces.

Gavi provided valuable funds towards the costs for vaccination readiness and delivery undertaken by the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO.

Vaccination started in North Kivu province today and will start in South Kivu tomorrow, Tshopo on 7 October and Equateur on 8 October. Vaccination in the two other provinces will start soon after.

From the start of the year to the end of September, DRC has recorded over 30,000 suspected cases of mpox and more than 900 deaths. Children under 15 are particularly affected by this outbreak, accounting for around 60 per cent of suspected cases and 80 per cent of deaths.

“The start of the vaccination campaign is a very welcome development and means we are one step closer to bringing this outbreak to an end,” said UNICEF DRC Representative Grant Leaity. “But I must stress that vaccines are just one tool at our disposal. Equally important for reducing the spread of the disease is providing people with the correct information on symptoms and what to do if they fall ill, and taking measures in health structures and schools for infection prevention and control.”

In the DRC, the MVA-BN mpox vaccine will be used to vaccinate adults. To be fully protected, two shots each a month apart are required. As the number of doses currently available is limited, only certain groups of especially vulnerable people will be eligible to receive the vaccine. These include, for example, frontline health workers, those who have been in contact with people who have contracted mpox, as well as others including those with compromised immune systems.

The DRC is expecting a delivery of 3 million doses of the LC-16 vaccine which has the potential to protect children against mpox. The LC-16 vaccine requires only one shot to provide protection.

“As this outbreak is affecting children in particular, we’re looking forward to exploring options for vaccines which will protect children from illness, pain and discomfort, and even death,” Leaity added.

UNICEF is supporting the government’s mpox preparation and response plan and recently launched an appeal for US$35 million in funding. UNICEF’s response to the mpox outbreak is comprehensive, focusing on children and pregnant women. UNICEF’s mpox response targets 12 out of DRC’s 26 provinces, with five provinces considered as very high priority*.

Children in areas affected by mpox in the DRC are also facing other deprivations and hardships, including outbreaks of other infectious diseases like measles, acute malnutrition, and a lack of quality health services. As such, UNICEF is stressing that the mpox response must not overlook pre-existing humanitarian needs, and must be accompanied by increased efforts to strengthen health, water and sanitation systems to sustainably address the underlying causes of this outbreak and prevent future ones.

As well as managing the transport and storage of the vaccines, UNICEF has a lead role in supporting government programmes for risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, treatment of malnutrition, mental health and psychological support, and operational research. UNICEF has also supplied personal protection equipment (including masks, gloves and gowns), diagnostic tests, medical treatment kits, hygiene supplies and tents to support a host of medical interventions such as surveillance, case isolation and treatment.

To date, UNICEF has reached 43 million people with mpox messages via mass media, face-to-face engagement, and SMS and digital channels across 26 provinces and has delivered 60 tonnes of medical and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and equipment.