The vaccination campaign against mpox in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is set to begin from October 2 to 11, 2024, despite facing significant challenges due to insufficient vaccine doses and inadequate cold storage facilities. The campaign will initially target three health zones out of the 32 affected by the outbreak, which has seen 7,889 suspected cases, including 1,700 confirmed cases and 43 deaths.
Justin Bengehya, the response operations leader against mpox, indicated that while the vaccination order was placed for the hotspots of Kamituga, Nyangezi, and Uvira, the Miti Murhesa health zone currently has the highest mortality and case numbers. Local organizations are actively working to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination.
Concerns have been raised regarding the lack of proper storage for the vaccines, which must be kept at extremely low temperatures of around -80°C. Dr. Joseph Matundanya, coordinator of the Expanded Vaccination Program in South Kivu, reassured the public that measures are being taken to ensure the vaccines are deployed effectively. The first phase will prioritize healthcare workers, travelers, and those in contact with infected individuals, using the MVA vaccine initially available.
On September 25, the World Health Organization provided diagnostic kits and medications to the provincial government to aid in the medical management of mpox across eight health zones.