For the first time, mpox vaccines have been rolled out in Africa, with several hundred high-risk individuals vaccinated in Rwanda, as reported by the African Union’s disease control centre.
On Tuesday, the initial 300 doses were administered near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been severely impacted by the outbreak, recording nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths from January to August.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya announced that vaccinations in the DRC will commence in the first week of October. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through contact with infected animals and humans, causing severe symptoms including fever and skin lesions.
The World Health Organization recently prequalified the MVA-BN vaccine, facilitating procurement for international agencies. To date, Africa has reported a total of 29,152 cases and 738 deaths across 15 countries, with Kaseya stating that the situation remains critical.
He highlighted that testing is insufficient, with only half of suspected cases undergoing testing. The WHO’s Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted multiple outbreaks driven by different strains, particularly in Burundi and the DRC, where case numbers continue to rise.
The prequalified vaccine is primarily for individuals aged 18 and older, given as two doses four weeks apart. However, it can also be used off-label for infants, children, adolescents, and vulnerable groups in outbreak settings, with recommendations for single-dose use where supplies are limited. Initial data suggest the vaccine is about 76% effective after a single dose and 82% effective after two doses.
