Zimbabwe has been selected as one of 17 African countries to receive targeted support for mpox vaccine development, a major initiative spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The initiative aims to bolster vaccine preparedness and deployment efforts across the continent, with a focus on effectively reaching populations most at risk of mpox.
Other countries benefiting from this support include 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, and Zambia.
Representatives from these nations, along with partners from organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and USAID, convened in Brazzaville for a regional meeting from 5-7 November 2024.
This gathering provided updated WHO recommendations and strategic tools essential for developing comprehensive mpox vaccination plans.
The initiative comes as African countries prepare for additional mpox vaccine deliveries in the coming months.
To address ongoing outbreaks and resource constraints, the WHO and Africa CDC are guiding each country in identifying mpox hotspots and tailoring vaccination strategies to their local epidemiology.
This approach aims to maximize the impact of the limited vaccine doses available.
Given the ongoing difficulties with bringing the outbreak under control using traditional public health measures, the need for effective mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans has become urgent,” stated Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The WHO recently added the MVA-BN vaccine to its prequalification list and established an Access and Allocation Mechanism to improve access to vaccines and treatments for mpox-affected regions.
Mpox vaccine deployments have faced delays in Africa, with supplies remaining limited. However, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria recently received a total of 280,000 doses, marking a critical step forward.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have already administered more than 50,000 doses as part of their initial vaccination drives.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, highlighted the strong commitment of African nations to swiftly implement targeted vaccination strategies, acknowledging the importance of collaboration across the continent and with global partners.
“This momentum speaks to the power of collaboration across the continent and with our global partners,” he said, noting Africa CDC’s ongoing support for countries to control the spread of mpox.
The WHO, Africa CDC, and partners are not only focusing on vaccination but also on diagnostics, case management, risk communication, and community engagement to effectively combat mpox.
This joint effort is critical as mpox cases continue to rise, with more than 11,000 confirmed cases reported across Africa in 2024. While countries like South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon have moved into the ‘controlled phase,’ fourteen African countries are still managing active outbreaks.
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