Mpox virus
The Democratic Republic of Congo launches its Mpox vaccination campaign in Goma, but there are serious concerns about the number of doses.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) once again finds itself at the heart of global health news with the long-awaited launch of its vaccination campaign against the Mpox virus (formerly called monkeypox). On October 5, in Goma, the first injection was administered as part of a crucial initiative to try to curb the rapid spread of the virus which has already claimed more than 980 victims in the country. However, a question arises: given the scale of the epidemic, will the 265,000 doses available be sufficient to stop this threat?
An expected and symbolic launch in Goma
Saturday October 5, the city of Goma, in the province of North Kivu, was the scene of a decisive moment. Dr Jeanine Muhavi, chief medical officer of the health zone, was the first to receive a dose of the Mpox vaccine, marking the official start of the campaign. “As a frontline person, I have to protect myself to continue helping the sick,” she said, encouraging others to follow her example. This vaccination is a symbol of hope in a particularly vulnerable region where health infrastructure is often insufficient in the face of such crises.
The Congolese government, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), took care to specify that this first phase of vaccination will not concern the general population, but will focus on the people most at risk. Health providers and at-risk communities, such as sex workers and gay groups, are at the heart of this response strategy. For these populations, vaccination represents a real lifeline in a context where the virus continues to spread, with more than 30,000 suspected cases recorded to date in the DRC.
Insufficient vaccine doses for a country of 100 million inhabitants
With only 265,000 doses received from the European Union and the United States, the DRC faces a monumental challenge. These doses, produced by the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic, are reserved for adults, even though children under the age of five represent 70% of deaths linked to Mpox in the country. Discussions are underway with Japan for a supply of vaccines suitable for children, but for the moment, the concern remains palpable: how to protect a population of 100 million inhabitants with so few vaccines available?
North Kivu and South Kivu: centers of the epidemic
The province of North Kivu, where the launch took place, is at increased risk due to its proximity to South Kivu, the epicenter of the current epidemic. More than 3,000 cases have already been recorded there, which particularly alerts local and international health authorities. The presence of camps for displaced people in the region only amplifies fears of an uncontrolled spread of the virus. Efforts are underway to deploy vaccination in these areas as early as next week, although the effectiveness of this response still remains uncertain given the extent of the need.
WHO calls for increased vigilance and global actions
The World Health Organization, through its regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, welcomed this first step in the fight against Mpox in the DRC. However, it calls for continued vigilance and international mobilization to provide more vaccines and diagnostic resources, essential to stem the spread of the virus. The recent WHO green light for the use of early diagnostic PCR tests is a step forward, but much more needs to be done to contain the epidemic.
