Congo Begins Mpox Vaccination, Focus on At-Risk Groups \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Congo has launched an mpox vaccination campaign in Goma to curb the ongoing outbreak, which accounts for the majority of Africa’s cases and deaths this year. With 265,000 donated doses from the EU and U.S., efforts are targeting at-risk adults and health workers. Eastern Congo faces severe challenges, including a potential outbreak in displaced persons’ camps due to overcrowding.
Mpox Vaccination Campaign in Congo Quick Looks
- Vaccine Rollout: Mpox vaccinations began in Goma, targeting at-risk groups and health workers.
- Donation Details: 265,000 doses provided by the EU and U.S. to help curb the outbreak.
- High Case Numbers: Congo reports over 30,000 suspected cases and 859 deaths, the highest in Africa.
- Focus Groups: Current vaccine doses are for adults, while children’s doses are expected soon from Japan.
- Health Crisis: Overcrowded camps for displaced persons in North Kivu are at high risk of further outbreaks.
Deep Look
Congolese authorities launched a large-scale mpox vaccination campaign on Saturday, nearly two months after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak in Congo a global emergency. The mpox outbreak, which began in Congo, has since spread across multiple African nations and even beyond the continent, prompting urgent calls for vaccination efforts.
The initial rollout of vaccinations began in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Congo, which has been one of the epicenters of the outbreak. The 265,000 doses were donated by the European Union and the United States, providing a significant boost to efforts to contain the spread of the virus in this region. Hospitals and health workers in Goma have been particularly overstretched, struggling with limited resources to address what is believed to be a new, potentially more infectious strain of mpox. These new doses are intended for adults in at-risk groups, including front-line health workers, as stated by Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba.
Congo has reported approximately 30,000 suspected mpox cases and 859 deaths, accounting for more than 80% of all mpox cases and 99% of the deaths reported in Africa this year. The disease has affected all 26 provinces of Congo, reflecting its widespread transmission within the country. Among the most affected are children under the age of 15, who make up the majority of infections and fatalities. Despite this, the current batch of vaccines is being administered only to adults, primarily those at higher risk of exposure, such as healthcare providers and other front-line workers.
Muboyayi Chikaya, chief of staff to the Health Minister, emphasized that strategies are in place to ensure the targeted vaccination of essential personnel. He personally oversaw the launch of the campaign in Goma, expressing the government’s determination to bring the outbreak under control. In addition, the Health Minister announced that at least 3 million doses of a vaccine approved for children are expected from Japan in the coming days, which should help protect younger populations who have been disproportionately affected by the disease.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, has been circulating in Africa for years, mostly unnoticed by the rest of the world until it prompted a global outbreak in 2022. During that outbreak, wealthy nations quickly mobilized their stockpiles of vaccines, while Africa struggled to receive enough doses despite repeated pleas from its governments. The disease in 2022 primarily affected gay and bisexual men, but the situation in Africa today is different. Mpox is spreading through multiple means, including sexual contact and close interaction among vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and people in overcrowded living conditions. Dr. Dimie Ogoina, chair of WHO’s mpox emergency committee, noted this broader transmission pattern during a recent briefing.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), over 34,000 suspected mpox cases and 866 deaths have been reported across 16 African countries this year, marking a 200% increase compared to the same period last year. However, despite the severity of the outbreak, access to vaccines remains a major challenge. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, mentioned that the continent, with a population of 1.4 billion, has so far only secured commitments for 5.9 million doses of mpox vaccines, expected to become available between October and December. Given the magnitude of its outbreak, Congo remains a high priority for vaccination efforts.
The vaccination drive in Goma took place against the backdrop of significant risks. Dr. Jean Bruno Ngenze, the World Health Organization’s representative in North Kivu, warned that the province is particularly vulnerable to a major outbreak. He pointed out the “promiscuity observed in the camps” for displaced persons as a key risk factor, highlighting the crowded living conditions and the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by armed conflict. North Kivu and the surrounding regions have long suffered from violence and instability, with over 100 armed groups competing for control of the mineral-rich area near the border with Rwanda. The conflict has led to mass killings and forced displacements, complicating efforts to control disease outbreaks.
Despite the daunting challenges, news of the vaccination rollout has brought a sense of relief to many in Congo, particularly in hospitals that have been struggling to manage the ongoing health crisis. Dr. Musole Mulambamunva Robert, the medical director of Kavumu Hospital, which serves as one of the mpox treatment centers in eastern Congo, voiced the hope that widespread vaccination would help curb the outbreak. “If everyone could be vaccinated, it would be even better to stop the spread of the disease,” Dr. Musole said, reflecting the urgency felt by many healthcare workers on the front lines of the epidemic.
Eastern Congo’s long-standing conflict has made it even more challenging for health workers to deliver care. With multiple armed groups vying for territory, providing basic healthcare services is a difficult task, let alone managing a large-scale vaccination campaign during a disease outbreak. The humanitarian crisis, marked by crowded camps for internally displaced persons, further complicates the situation, as such environments are particularly conducive to the spread of infectious diseases like mpox. Nonetheless, the start of vaccinations is a step in the right direction, offering hope to a region that has faced immense hardship over the years.
The rollout of vaccines specifically for children in the coming days, thanks to the commitment from Japan, is seen as a critical component of the overall strategy to bring the outbreak under control. With children making up a significant portion of those infected and dying from mpox in Congo, the availability of vaccines suitable for younger age groups is crucial. It represents a significant advancement in the campaign to protect the most vulnerable and prevent further spread.
While the world responded quickly to mpox outbreaks in 2022 in other regions, Africa is still catching up in terms of vaccine supply and public health support. The disparity in response highlights ongoing inequities in global healthcare, particularly in how resources are allocated to the most affected areas. Despite these challenges, health authorities in Congo, backed by international partners, are pushing forward with vaccination efforts to control what has become one of the worst public health crises in the region.
Dr. Jean Bruno Ngenze’s warning about the potential for a major outbreak in displaced persons’ camps adds an urgency to the vaccination campaign. These camps, which host thousands of people fleeing armed violence, provide ideal conditions for infectious diseases to thrive. The success of the mpox vaccination campaign in Congo will depend not only on the availability of doses but also on the ability to reach these vulnerable populations effectively. Ensuring that vaccines are distributed equitably and administered efficiently in these high-risk areas is crucial for stemming the spread of the disease.
The start of the vaccination campaign in Goma, however, marks an important milestone. Despite the ongoing conflict, logistical challenges, and delayed international response, Congo is taking proactive measures to fight mpox. It is a testament to the resilience of its health workers and the support from international partners that this campaign has finally begun. The next weeks will be crucial as more doses arrive and vaccination efforts expand, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups such as children.
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