DR Congo Rushes Mpox Vaccination Amid Rising Infections

The Democratic Republic of Congo will begin its mpox vaccination campaign on October 2, targeting high-risk groups as the outbreak intensifies.

The DR Congo has received 265,000 mpox vaccine doses from the European Union and the United States, but needs 3 million doses to effectively control the outbreak.
The vaccination campaign will prioritize adults in the hardest-hit provinces, including healthcare workers, park rangers, and sex workers.
Children under 15 are particularly affected, accounting for 62% of cases and 80% of deaths in the DR Congo.
Ongoing armed conflict and poor infrastructure in eastern DR Congo are complicating vaccine distribution and overall outbreak response efforts.
The World Health Organization and Africa CDC have declared the mpox outbreak a global public health emergency, urging international support and coordination.