The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have pledged to support the development of focused mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans, ensuring effective use of available doses. This commitment was made last week during a gathering of country representatives and partners in Brazzaville.
In a statement on Sunday, Africa CDC indicated that with expected mpox vaccine deliveries in the coming months, African countries had requested assistance in pinpointing and mapping mpox hotspots based on local data and planning targeted vaccination strategies for populations at risk.
More than 120 participants from 17 countries attended the Regional Mpox Vaccine Preparedness and Deployment Plan Development meeting, held from November 5-7, 2024. Representatives included partners from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, and support from Canada.
The meeting focused on the needs of 17 countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. WHO and Africa CDC experts shared updated guidance and tools to aid in creating mpox vaccination plans.
Both organisations are making significant efforts to help countries access vaccines amid ongoing outbreaks. WHO added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification list on September 13, 2024, and set up an Access and Allocation Mechanism to ensure vaccines, treatments, and tests reach the areas of highest need. Although vaccine deployment has faced delays across Africa, recent deliveries include 280,000 doses to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. Initial vaccinations are underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, with over 50,000 doses administered.
WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, emphasised that the need for precise mpox vaccine deployment plans, guided by local epidemiology, is urgent due to limited vaccine supplies and ongoing outbreaks.
Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya commended African countries for their swift rollout of targeted vaccination strategies to protect vulnerable populations. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that Africa CDC remains committed to supporting countries with essential tools, guidance, and resources for effective mpox control.
The WHO, Africa CDC, and partners are actively collaborating through the Continental Incident Management Support Team, providing assistance for mpox vaccination, diagnostics, case management, risk communication, and community engagement.
The collaboration comes at a critical moment, as mpox cases continue to rise across Africa, with over 11,000 confirmed cases as of November 6, 2024. Four countries—South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon—entered a “controlled phase” after six weeks without new cases, while 14 others are experiencing active outbreaks.
