First Batch of Mpox Vaccines Arrives in Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has received the first 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine, donated by the European Union and manufactured by Bavarian Nordic. The vaccine arrived three weeks after the World Health Organization categorized the mpox outbreaks in 12 African nations as a global emergency. An additional 100,000 doses are anticipated on Saturday, with UNICEF designated to oversee the vaccination effort in the most impacted provinces.

Congo's Health Minister, Roger Kamba, spoke about the delivery but did not specify when vaccinations would commence. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that about 380,000 doses have been pledged by Western partners, far below the 3 million doses needed to halt the outbreak in Congo. The disease continues to spread, with over 22,800 cases and 622 deaths reported on the continent last week.

The vaccine is currently approved for adults, and the European Medicines Agency is evaluating its use in children aged 12 to 17; approval may come by month's end. Last week, the US donated 10,000 doses to Nigeria, marking its first known donation to Africa since the current outbreak. Efforts are underway to develop a unified response strategy that can be considered at a meeting of African leaders later this month. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)