Elizabeth Dube in Brazzaville, Congo
In a concerted effort to control the escalating mpox outbreaks, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) convened this week in Brazzaville, along with representatives from 17 African countries, to sharpen the focus on mpox vaccine preparedness and targeted deployment plans.
The meeting, held from November 5 to November 7, 2024, came at a crucial time as countries anticipate more vaccine deliveries over the coming months.
With recent allocations in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria receiving a total of 280,000 doses, and over 50,000 already administered, the urgency for effective vaccine strategy is pressing.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted the challenges, “Given the ongoing difficulties with controlling the outbreak using traditional public health measures, developing very targeted vaccine deployment plans, guided by local epidemiology, has become urgent.”
The region’s response has been hampered by vaccine supply constraints, necessitating a highly strategic approach to allocation. The meeting’s focus was on providing up-to-date information, current WHO recommendations, and tools to guide countries in formulating and refining their mpox vaccination plans.
More than 120 participants, including partners from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Agency for International Development, and with support from Canada, attended the Regional Mpox Vaccine Preparedness and Deployment Plan Development meeting.
The gathering also marked the continuation of efforts by both WHO and Africa CDC to facilitate access to the MVA-BN vaccine, which WHO added to its prequalification list on September 13, 2024.
This move was part of establishing an Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM) to improve the distribution of vaccines, treatments, and tests where they are most needed.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, praised the rapid mobilization across the continent, “The swift actions of countries across Africa to roll out targeted mpox vaccination strategies reflect an extraordinary commitment to protect those most vulnerable.”
The regional meeting comes against the backdrop of over 11,000 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases reported across the continent since the start of 2024, with South Africa, Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon having recently moved to a ‘controlled phase’ after reporting no new cases for six weeks. Meanwhile, fourteen other countries are grappling with active outbreaks.
WHO and Africa CDC are not only focusing on vaccination but also strengthening capacities in diagnostics, case management, risk communication, and community engagement through the Continental IMST, which supports countries in their response to the mpox crisis.
This collaboration underscores a broader strategy to mitigate the spread of mpox through a unified approach, integrating resources and expertise from global and regional partners.
As the continent continues to tackle this health crisis, the steps taken in Brazzaville this week are set to play a pivotal role in defining the trajectory of mpox control in Africa, aiming for a more coordinated and effective response to safeguard public health.
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