First Mpox Vaccine Batch Arrives In Congo

The AP (9/5, Kamale) reports, “The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congo’s capital on Thursday, the country’s authorities said.” According to the AP, “the 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union through HERA, the bloc’s agency for health emergencies.” An additional “100,000 are expected to be delivered on Saturday, Congolese authorities said.” Roughly “380,000 doses of mpox vaccines have been promised by Western partners such as the European Union and the United States, Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters last week.” That number “is less than 15% of the 3 million doses authorities have said are needed to end the mpox outbreaks in Congo.” Reuters (9/5, Kasongo, Makangara) reports, “Congo has said it will launch its vaccination campaign on Oct. 8 to allow time for a thorough awareness-raising campaign to overcome mistrust in some communities.”