Mpox vaccine rollout in Congo slower than expected, health official says
October 18, 2024
Congo's mpox vaccination campaign is facing hurdles due to low awareness and vaccine hesitancy. Cris Kacita, head of Congo's mpox response team, acknowledges the need for improved public education. In North Kivu province, many residents remain uninformed about the vaccine. With only 265,000 doses available for a population of 100 million, the campaign's scope is limited. Health workers are recruiting local advocates to promote vaccination benefits. The campaign, crucial for containing the outbreak at its epicenter, will likely extend beyond the planned 10 days. Mpox, while usually mild, can be fatal and spreads through close contact.
Congo's efforts to combat mpox through vaccination are facing significant challenges, primarily due to low public awareness and vaccine hesitancy. The campaign, launched this month in the hard-hit eastern region, is a crucial step in containing the outbreak at its epicenter, from where it has spread to numerous other African nations.
Key aspects of the situation include:
1. Awareness Gap: Cris Kacita, head of Congo's mpox response team, acknowledges that the awareness campaign has been "timid" and needs improvement.
2. Vaccine Hesitancy: In North Kivu province, many residents, including those in displaced persons camps, report receiving no information about the vaccination efforts.
3. Limited Supply: With only 265,000 doses available for a population of around 100 million, the campaign's scope is necessarily narrow to start.
4. Extended Timeline: The vaccination campaign is expected to last longer than the initially planned 10 days due to these challenges.
5. Community Engagement: Health workers are recruiting local advocates who have been vaccinated to promote the benefits within their communities.
6. Innovative Outreach: Some advocates, like 22-year-old Benire Furahini Buchaguzi, are using loudspeakers and showing their vaccination certificates to encourage others.
7. Disease Impact: Mpox, while usually mild, can be fatal. It spreads through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.
8. Regional Significance: The success of Congo's vaccination campaign is crucial for containing the outbreak's spread to other African nations.
The situation in Congo highlights the complex challenges of implementing vaccination campaigns in regions with limited resources and information gaps. It underscores the importance of robust public health education and community engagement in successful disease control efforts. As the campaign progresses, the strategies employed to overcome vaccine hesitancy and boost awareness could provide valuable lessons for future public health initiatives in similar contexts.