Congo’s efforts to launch a widespread mpox vaccination campaign in its capital, Kinshasa, have been delayed due to a significant shortage of vaccine doses, as the number of cases across the country continues to surge, particularly among children.
The situation has prompted concerns from health experts, as the virus spreads and new cases rise.
Cris Kacita, head of the operations for Congo’s mpox control programme, disclosed on Wednesday that the country had only 53,921 vaccine doses remaining, which were allocated for use in prisons where people face a higher risk of infection due to poor living conditions. However, more than 162,000 doses are required to initiate the vaccination campaign in Kinshasa, which has a population of nearly 20 million.
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While the situation in Kinshasa has been relatively less severe compared to other regions, the shortage of vaccines has delayed plans to vaccinate individuals in 14 health zones within the city. Although France has pledged 100,000 doses, and additional shipments are expected from Germany and the African Union, the arrival of these vaccines has been delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles, including documentation and import authorizations.
The country reported 1,017 new suspected cases of mpox between October 28 and November 2, including 45 confirmed cases and 16 deaths. Health officials are particularly concerned about the rising number of cases among children. Save the Children, an international charity, warned that children are four times more likely to die from the new strain of mpox compared to adults. The charity’s data indicates that the number of suspected cases in children has surged by over 130%, from 11,300 in mid-August to 25,600 by November 3.
Save the Children’s Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse emphasized that children, due to their developmental stage and weaker immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to mpox. The organization has called for targeted vaccination efforts to prevent further spread of the virus among younger populations.
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