The leading public health institution in Africa, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has announced that vaccination against monkeypox may commence within a few days in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations. The process of vaccine distribution is supported through the commitment by the EU, Bavarian Nordic, the US, and Japan, and focuses on countries currently dealing with monkeypox outbreaks. The Africa CDC is in collaboration with these countries, preparing logistical measures and communication plans for the rollout of vaccines.
Last week witnessed the World Health Organisation declaring the monkeypox a second global public health emergency in two years, due to the quick spread of a new strain of the disease across Africa. Africa CDC’s director general, Jean Kaseya, stated that the vaccinations haven’t started yet and will commence in some days upon ensuring that all necessary prerequisites are in order, including supply chain management and logistics for safe storage and administration of vaccines.
Although vaccines have started being distributed, research into the effectiveness of different vaccines will continue in Africa, which will aid nations in understanding the most suitable vaccines in their scenario. As of now, there is an alarming surge in monkeypox cases across the continent, with the total cases rising to nearly 19,000 in 12 countries ever since the onset of 2024. Kaseya emphasised the need for international solidarity to help African nations increase their testing rate and gain access to vaccines, instead of any form of prejudiced treatment like during the Covid-19 outbreak.
An official from the World Health Organisation emphasised on Tuesday that, regardless of it being a new or old variant, mpox is not the new Covid, as methods to halt its transmission are well understood. Hans Kluge, the Europe regional director for WHO, voiced his ideas at a media briefing hosted by the UN, stating, “We have the collective ability, and indeed the obligation, to combat mpox.’ He posed a question to the audience, “Are we going to establish protocols to control and eventually eradicate mpox on a global scale, or are we doomed to repeat cycles of hysteria and disregard?” He stated that the response now and in the impending years will be a crucial trial for Europe as well as the entire world. This statement was reported by Reuters.