Rwanda has launched Africa’s first mpox vaccination campaign, marking a crucial step in the continent’s fight against the disease.
As of Tuesday, 300 vaccine doses were administered to high-risk individuals in a border region near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), confirmed the start of the campaign, emphasizing the urgency of controlling the outbreak.
“This outbreak must be stopped quickly,” Kaseya stated, while also highlighting the importance of local vaccine production.
“We are working closely with manufacturers and partners to ensure these vaccines are produced in Africa,” he added.
The Rwandan Ministry of Health prioritized health workers, cross-border traders, hospitality staff, and other high-risk groups in the initial phase of the rollout.
The DRC, the epicenter of the mpox outbreak in Africa, reported 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths in the past week, raising its total to 6,105 cases and 738 deaths since January.
The DRC is set to begin its vaccination campaign in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and more pledged by European countries.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), called for global cooperation to contain the spread of mpox, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “International collaboration and support are needed to stop the virus.”
Other African countries, including Nigeria, have also received vaccine donations.
In August, the United States provided 10,000 mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria through USAID to support containment efforts.
