Third of donated Japanese mpox vaccines going to waste in Congo amid storage challenge
November 12, 2025
Roughly one-third of Japan’s donated LC16 mpox vaccine doses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are going to waste due to storage and handling challenges. Each vial contains 250 doses that must be used within hours once mixed, leaving little flexibility for low-turnout vaccination sessions. Despite this loss, over half a million people have been immunized, and cases in Congo are declining. The situation highlights the logistical difficulties of delivering complex vaccines in regions with fragile infrastructure and instability. Improving cold-chain systems, community mobilization, and flexible vaccination strategies will be essential to ensure that future donations reach those most in need.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s struggle to preserve and administer Japan’s donated LC16 mpox vaccines underscores the operational complexities of outbreak response in resource-limited settings. According to Congo’s mpox response lead, approximately 32 to 35 percent of LC16 doses are being wasted. Each vial contains 250 powder doses that must be reconstituted for use and discarded within hours if not administered, making it difficult to avoid losses in areas with unpredictable turnout.
Japan has donated three million LC16 doses since the onset of the Clade Ib mpox outbreak, which triggered a global health emergency in 2024. More than half a million people in Congo have been vaccinated so far with either LC16 or Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN vaccine. While vaccination has contributed to a drop in reported mpox cases—from 67,000 last year to about 53,000 in 2025—the high wastage rate exposes a deeper issue: the mismatch between complex vaccine requirements and on-the-ground realities in low-resource settings.
LC16, developed by KM Biologics, is the only vaccine authorized for use in children and requires a specialized needle and administration technique. The World Health Organization notes that vaccines like LC16 typically experience higher wastage rates because of short shelf life after reconstitution. These challenges are amplified in Congo’s remote and conflict-affected provinces, where cold-chain systems are limited and healthcare access is uneven.
Despite these barriers, the vaccine campaign has significantly improved protection in Kinshasa, according to health officials. However, without investment in better cold-chain logistics, adaptive delivery models, and rapid community engagement, vaccine wastage will continue to undermine public health impact. As mpox transmission persists across 17 African countries, optimizing vaccine use is not just a matter of efficiency—it is a moral and strategic imperative to safeguard lives in regions bearing the heaviest burden.