The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) launched its mpox vaccination drive on Saturday, beginning in the eastern city of Goma, located in North Kivu province.
This initiative follows the receipt of 265,000 vaccine doses donated by the European Union and the United States.
Despite most mpox cases and fatalities occurring in children under 15, Health Minister Roger Kamba announced that the vaccine will be prioritized for adults, especially at-risk populations and frontline healthcare workers.
Congo, with around 30,000 suspected cases and 859 related deaths, represents over 80% of Africa’s mpox cases and nearly all the reported deaths on the continent this year.
