The Democratic Republic of Congo will launch its mpox vaccination campaign on October 2, advancing the start date by nearly a week, according to Cris Kacita, head of the outbreak response.
The country, which is at the center of the mpox outbreak declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization last month, initially planned to begin vaccinations on October 8.
However, due to recent improvements in procedures, the campaign will now start earlier.
The 10-day campaign will focus on adults, including healthcare workers, park rangers, and sex workers across Congo’s six provinces.
The Central African country had initially scheduled its mpox vaccination campaign for October 8, following the arrival of its first vaccine shipment last week.
However, health authorities now plan to begin on October 2, according to Cris Kacita.
He noted that improved procedures have helped shorten delays. The 10-day campaign will focus on adults, including healthcare workers, park rangers, and sex workers across the country’s six provinces.
Cris Kacita, head of DR Congo’s mpox response, noted ongoing efforts to address vaccine mistrust and logistical challenges in delivering the program across the country’s six provinces.
On Tuesday, Congo received 50,000 doses of mpox vaccine donated by the U.S., bringing the total to 265,000 doses from both the U.S. and the European Union, as reported by Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn on X.
He noted that the current supply of doses would not cover many areas in DR Congo. He mentioned that France and Belgium have pledged additional doses, with details expected within the week.
Japan has committed to donating 3.5 million doses of a vaccine suitable for children, who are heavily affected by the outbreak, though discussions on this donation are still ongoing.
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