In a critical meeting held in Brazzaville, health experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) collaborated with representatives from 17 vulnerable African nations to devise strategic mpox vaccination plans. The urgency of these plans arises from the rising mpox cases across the continent and the challenges faced in containing the outbreak through standard public health interventions.

The meeting, taking place from November 5 to 7, drew over 120 participants including key partners from Gavi, UNICEF, and the U.S. CDC, highlighting a concerted international effort to combat this public health threat. Countries have been leveraging their recent vaccine supplies to identify mpox hotspots—regions with higher incidences of mpox—ensuring that vaccine distribution is prioritized for high-risk populations.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the need for tailored vaccine deployment strategies due to ongoing supply constraints: “These targeted plans, based on local epidemiology, are crucial as traditional methods have struggled against this persistent outbreak.”

In response to escalating concerns, WHO has added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification list as of September 13, 2024, and launched an Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) to improve vaccine distribution.

Recent vaccine shipments have reached several nations, including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with around 280,000 doses delivered overall. To date, over 50,000 doses have already been administered in DRC and Rwanda, kickstarting efforts to protect the most at-risk populations.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, stated, “The dedication shown by African countries to rollout these vaccination plans quickly is a remarkable commitment to safeguarding vulnerable communities. This progress signals not only resilience but also the strength of collaboration across Africa and with global partners.”

As mpox cases continue to trend upwards—over 11,000 confirmed cases reported since January 2024—the need for effective intervention measures is paramount. Reports indicate that while countries like South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon have reached a ‘controlled phase’ with no new cases for six weeks, other nations remain in the throes of active outbreaks.

Participating countries include: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This unprecedented cooperation between countries, WHO, and Africa CDC exemplifies a significant commitment to not just mitigate the current mpox situation, but also to build resilient health systems for future outbreaks.

As this public health crisis unfolds, staying informed and engaged will be vital. More details on vaccination efforts, outbreak management strategies, and community engagement initiatives will continue to be shared to ensure the protection of at-risk populations across Africa. Stay tuned for more updates as countries rally together to combat mpox and save lives.