Congo Faces Challenges in Mpox Vaccination Campaign

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a vaccination campaign against mpox, facing significant challenges in awareness and distribution. With only 265,000 doses available for a population of around 100 million, local health workers emphasize the need for better communication to combat skepticism about the vaccine. Benire Furahini Buchaguzi, a community health worker, is actively promoting vaccination in North Kivu province, where many residents are unaware of the vaccine's existence. The Africa CDC has reported over 42,000 mpox cases and 1,100 deaths across the continent, urging international partners for immediate action. Cris Kacita, head of the mpox response team, acknowledges that the campaign will take longer than initially planned due to necessary awareness efforts. As mpox continues to spread, there is a pressing need for effective education to encourage vaccine uptake and curb the outbreak.