The Democratic Republic of Congo has been unable to launch a smallpox vaccination campaign in the capital, Kinshasa, due to a shortage of doses, the head of the country’s response said, as cases continue to increase across the country, particularly among children.
The World Health Organization declared the mpox virus a global health emergency in mid-August, after a new strain began spreading from Congo to neighboring countries.
However, donors have been slow to translate their promises into money and vaccines, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cris Kacita, head of operations for Congo’s smallpox program, said Tuesday there were 53,921 vaccine doses left for use in prisons – where people are at high risk due to squalid conditions – but that more than 162,000 doses were missing to launch a vaccination program in the capital.
So far, the capital, which has a population of almost 20 million, has been less affected than other parts of the country. Vaccination programs are underway in six other provinces.
France has promised 100,000 doses, along with other shipments from Germany and the African Union. But we don’t know when they will arrive, Mr. Kacita said.
He added that the arrival of vaccines was also delayed by the administrative process, which includes sending an official request, manufacturing, preparing documents and obtaining import authorizations.
“As long as we do not have the necessary quantity, it will be complicated to launch (vaccination) in the 14 health zones,” Mr. Kacita told Reuters, referring to the Kinshasa zones.
Congo as a whole reported 1,017 new suspected cases between October 28 and November 2, including 45 confirmed cases and 16 deaths, according to a health ministry report.
The charity Save the Children said on Wednesday that targeted vaccinations were needed to prevent the rapid spread of the virus among children, who are almost four times more likely to die from the new strain of mpox than adults.
According to data from the humanitarian organization, suspected cases among children in Congo have increased by more than 130% since August 14, from 11,300 to 25,600 as of November 3.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to smallpox – they explore by touch and taste, do not always understand health advice and have weaker immune systems than adults,” said Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse of Save the Children .
