DR Congo Starts Mpox Vaccinations in Goma, Prioritizing Health Workers as Deaths Reach 859

Oct 5, 2024, 02:58 PM

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched its first mpox vaccination campaign in the eastern city of Goma, North Kivu province, aiming to curb the outbreak of the virus that has spread to several African countries and beyond. The campaign, which started on Saturday, prioritizes health workers, frontline responders, contacts of confirmed cases, and other at-risk groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with DRC authorities to effectively deliver the vaccines. This initiative comes nearly two months after the mpox outbreak was declared a global emergency by the WHO. The DRC is considered the epicenter of the epidemic, with 859 deaths reported this year.