Rwanda Pioneers Africa’s Fight Against Mpox with Groundbreaking Vaccination Campaign
Rwanda has made history by launching the first mpox vaccination campaign in Africa, a significant milestone in the continent’s fight against the disease. As of Tuesday, the country has administered 300 doses of the vaccine to high-risk individuals in a border region with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The urgent need for action was emphasized by Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC). "This outbreak must be stopped very quickly," he said, emphasizing the importance of swift and decisive action. Kaseya also highlighted the importance of local vaccine production, stating that the Africa CDC is working closely with manufacturers and partners to ensure that vaccines are produced in Africa.
The Rwandan Ministry of Health has targeted high-risk populations, including health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality staff, and others, in the initial rollout. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains at the epicenter of the African mpox outbreak, reporting 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths in the past week alone, bringing the total to 6,105 cases and 738 deaths since January.
The DRC is expected to begin its vaccination efforts in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and additional supplies pledged by European nations. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has called for international cooperation to halt the spread of mpox, stating, "International collaboration and support are needed to stop the spread of the virus."
Other African nations, including Nigeria, have also received support in the form of vaccine donations. In August, the United States provided 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to Nigeria through USAID, further bolstering efforts to contain the outbreak. As the global community comes together to combat this pressing health crisis, Rwanda’s pioneering vaccination campaign serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the continent’s determination to fight mpox.
