50,000 mpox vaccine doses arrive in Congo from the US

On Tuesday, authorities in Congo announced the arrival of 50,000 doses of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine from the United States, following a previous shipment of 100,000 doses from the European Union. The vaccination campaign is set to begin on October 2, prioritizing adults in the provinces of Equateur, South Kivu, and Sankuru, which are the most affected by the outbreak. This initiative comes in response to a significant rise in mpox cases, with Congo accounting for 91% of the 5,549 confirmed cases across Africa since the start of 2024. The outbreak has been particularly severe among children under 15, prompting urgent action from health authorities. The Africa CDC and WHO have launched a continent-wide response plan to address the escalating health crisis, which was declared a global emergency by WHO three weeks prior. The JYNNEOS vaccine, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic, has already been used in Europe and the U.S., and Congo has issued emergency approval for its use. In addition to the U.S. and EU donations, further support is expected, with EU countries pledging over 500,000 additional doses, although the timeline for their delivery remains uncertain. The next batch of vaccines is anticipated from Japan, potentially arriving as soon as the upcoming weekend. The vaccination strategy will initially focus on adults, particularly those in close contact with infected individuals and sex workers. The European Medicines Agency is also reviewing data to potentially extend vaccine eligibility to children aged 12 to 17 by the end of the month, highlighting the urgent need to control the outbreak and protect vulnerable populations.