Democratic Republic of Congo, ground zero for the mpox outbreak that led the U.N. to declare a global public health emergency, is finally expecting its first batch of vaccine doses. The very country at the epicenter of this crisis has been left scrambling for vaccines while the rest of the world, particularly Europe and the United States, have been enjoying ample supplies. But better late than never, right?
What They Are saying
According to Cris Kacita, head of Congo’s mpox outbreak response, the first shipment is slated to arrive on Thursday, with another expected on Saturday. He casually dropped this information in a WhatsApp message to Reuters, offering no further details on how many doses will actually arrive or who’s behind this long-awaited delivery.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the vaccines are being manufactured by Bavarian Nordic and generously donated by the European Union. The same European Union that had more than enough doses to go around while Africa was left out in the cold. It’s a glaring reminder of the global inequality that has once again reared its ugly head.
In a press conference in Geneva, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that these doses are indeed en route to Congo. It’s a drop in the ocean, considering the scale of the crisis, but Washington and Brussels have promised tens of thousands of doses, with Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, stating that around 200,000 doses will be delivered in this first round. But let’s not pop the champagne just yet.
Why It Matters
Kacita noted that the actual vaccination campaign might not kick off until October 8th, assuming the vaccines arrive as promised. Even when the vaccines do get there, they won’t be immediately distributed. Why? Because the authorities have to spend a month trying to convince the population that this vaccine is worth taking—a task that’s as challenging as keeping these doses stored at the required -90 degrees Celsius in a country where basic infrastructure is a luxury.
Communication is, of course, key. But when you’re dealing with a vast country the size of Western Europe, where communities are understandably skeptical, getting the message across is no small feat. The WHO’s acting director of epidemic and pandemic prevention, Maria Van Kerkhove, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the population knows who will be prioritized for vaccination. In other words, let’s hope people don’t start fighting over these scarce doses.
Children, who are among the most vulnerable to mpox—are not even officially cleared to receive Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine. The WHO is recommending that children in Congo be vaccinated anyway, as the benefits are thought to outweigh the risks. Yes, this is where we are: administering unapproved vaccines to children because the situation is just that dire.
Mpox, which causes flu-like symptoms and grotesque pus-filled lesions, has already claimed 655 lives out of 19,710 suspected cases in Congo this year alone. The disease spreads through close contact, including sexual contact, making containment a nightmare in rural areas where health resources are non-existent.
Bottom Line
A doctor involved in Congo’s response, who understandably chose to remain anonymous, voiced concerns that any successful vaccination campaign would hinge on targeting the immediate contacts of confirmed cases. Yet, many of these areas are so under-resourced that even basic necessities like clean water and electricity are a pipe dream. To make matters worse, Congo is running out of testing supplies, and neighboring Burundi is now reporting cases of a new strain of the virus, adding to the region’s growing woes.
