In a groundbreaking move, Rwanda has become the first African country to administer mpox vaccinations, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the virus. The African Union’s disease control center announced that several hundred high-risk individuals have received the vaccine.
According to Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), “The mpox outbreak remains unchecked.” To combat this, vaccinations will commence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in early October.
The DRC has been severely affected, with nearly 22,000 cases and over 700 deaths reported between January and August. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a virus transmitted through close contact with infected animals or humans, causing fever, muscle aches, and skin lesions.
READ MORE: W.TEC’s 17th She Creates Camp, Empowering Next Generation Of Female Innovators
The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the MVA-BN vaccine, enabling international agencies to procure it. This vaccine has shown an estimated 76% effectiveness against mpox with a single dose and 82% with two doses.
Africa CDC reports 29,152 cases and 738 deaths across 15 African countries. To combat the outbreak, the WHO recommends vaccine use in outbreak settings, even for infants, children, adolescents, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
Rwanda’s vaccination rollout is a beacon of hope in the fight against mpox. As Kaseya emphasized, “Vaccination is crucial in controlling the spread of the virus.”
