Rwanda Sets A Precedent As The First African Nation To Administer Mpox Vaccines

Rwanda Sets A Precedent As The First African Nation To Administer Mpox Vaccines

Rwanda has launched the first mpox vaccination campaign in Africa, marking a significant advancement in the continent’s battle against the disease…….CONTINUE READING

As of Tuesday, the country has administered 300 doses of the vaccine to high-risk individuals in a border area adjacent to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), confirmed the start of the campaign, emphasizing the urgency of controlling the outbreak. “This outbreak must be stopped very quickly,” Kaseya stated.

He also highlighted the importance of local vaccine production, noting, “We are working closely with our manufacturers and partners to ensure these vaccines are produced in Africa.” The Rwandan Ministry of Health is prioritizing health workers, cross-border business operators, hospitality staff, and other high-risk groups in the initial rollout.

The DRC remains at the center of the African mpox outbreak, having reported 2,912 new cases and 14 deaths in the past week alone. This brings the total to 6,105 cases and 738 deaths since January. The DRC is expected to begin its vaccination campaign in early October, with 165,000 doses already delivered and additional supplies promised by European nations.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has called for international cooperation to combat the spread of mpox. “International collaboration and support are needed to stop the spread of the virus,” Ghebreyesus wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Other African countries, including Nigeria, have also received assistance in the form of vaccine donations. In August, the United States supplied Nigeria with 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine through USAID, further supporting efforts to contain the outbreak.