Kinshasa faces Mpox vaccine shortage

Zim Now Writer

The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with a critical shortage of mpox vaccines, hindering its ability to launch a vaccination campaign in the capital city, Kinshasa. The delay comes as cases of the virus continue to surge, particularly among children.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August 2023, following the emergence of a new strain originating from Congo. However, despite this declaration, the international community has been slow to provide the necessary resources, including vaccines, to combat the outbreak.

Cris Kacita, head of operations for Congo's mpox control program, revealed on Tuesday that the country currently possesses 53,921 vaccine doses, primarily earmarked for prisons due to the high-risk environment. However, to initiate a vaccination program in Kinshasa, a city of nearly 20 million people, the country requires over 162,000 doses.

While vaccination efforts are underway in six other provinces, Kinshasa, despite its large population, has thus far been less affected.

France has pledged to provide 100,000 doses, with additional shipments expected from Germany and the African Union. Yet, the exact arrival timeline for these supplies remains uncertain. Kacita attributed the delay to bureaucratic hurdles, including the time-consuming process of official requests, manufacturing, documentation, and import authorization.

Kacita expressed concern over the potential impact of the vaccine shortage on Kinshasa's 14 health zones, stating, "As long as we don't have the necessary quantity, it's going to be complicated to launch (vaccination) in these areas."