The World Health Organisation, (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are working to implement Mpox vaccination strategies for 17 African countries grappling with high infection rates.
This initiative comes after mounting challenges in controlling the outbreak through conventional public health measures.
According to a statement from the Africa CDC, experts from both organisations met with representatives from these nations in Brazzaville from Tuesday to Thursday to devise plans for the efficient distribution and use of limited vaccine supplies.
“The need for effective Mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans has become urgent,” the Africa CDC said, noting the ongoing difficulties in controlling the virus.
The meeting was crucial in setting up a comprehensive guide for vaccine rollout, with a focus on targeted strategies to reach at-risk populations. “The swift actions of African countries to roll out Mpox vaccines using targeted strategies reflect an extraordinary commitment to protecting those most vulnerable,” the Africa CDC added.
Africa Health Report, (AHR) earlier reported that 899,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine will be distributed to nine African countries, including Nigeria and 5.85 million doses have been allocated to the continent through the WHO’s Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM), which aims to ensure fair distribution during public health crises.
Despite these allocations, Africa CDC officials highlighted that vaccine supply remains limited globally, with distribution delays likely to persist. “Mpox vaccine deployments were delayed on the continent, and the supply is likely to remain limited in the near- to medium-term,” the agency said.
As of now, Africa has recorded over 38,000 suspected Mpox cases, including more than 1,000 deaths, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo bearing the highest burden.
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