The first mpox vaccinations have been rolled out in Africa, with Rwanda vaccinating several hundred high-risk individuals as part of the continent’s initial efforts to combat the virus.
The African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Thursday that the first 300 doses were administered earlier this week near Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking on the development, a spokesperson for Africa CDC stated, “These vaccinations mark the beginning of our efforts to control the spread of mpox in the region, particularly in areas most affected by the virus.”
The DRC has borne the brunt of the mpox outbreak, reporting nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths between January and August 2024, making it the worst-affected country on the continent.
Director General of Africa CDC,Jean Kaseya confirmed that the DRC will begin administering vaccines in the “first week of October” as part of broader efforts to curb the virus’s spread.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted from animals to humans and through close physical contact between individuals.
It can be fatal in some cases, causing symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and large skin lesions resembling boils.
The World Health Organization recently prequalified the MVA-BN vaccine for mpox, a key milestone that allows international agencies to procure the vaccine for distribution. The WHO has recommended the vaccine be given as a two-dose injection, four weeks apart, to individuals over the age of 18.
Kaseya highlighted the urgent need for these vaccines in Africa, saying, “Mpox is not under control, and our goal is to protect those most at risk, particularly in countries like the DRC where the impact has been severe.”
So far, Africa has recorded 29,152 cases and 738 deaths across 15 countries. While most of the cases and fatalities in the DRC have occurred in children, the WHO noted that the MVA-BN vaccine could also be administered “off-label” to infants, children, adolescents, as well as pregnant and immunocompromised individuals in outbreak settings where the benefits of vaccination outweigh potential risks.
In areas where vaccine supplies are limited, the WHO also supports single-dose vaccination strategies.
According to the available data, a single dose administered before exposure provides an estimated 76% protection, while two doses offer around 82% effectiveness.
“More data is needed on the safety and efficacy of single-dose use in outbreak situations, but this is an important option where vaccines are scarce,” the WHO said in a briefing.
