The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will not receive its first batch of mpox vaccines as anticipated this week, according to the head of the country’s response team. This comes as the DRC faces a new variant of the virus, which has already spread beyond its borders.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency on August 14, marking the second such declaration in two years. Hopes were high in Congo after its health minister announced on August 19 that the Central African nation expected its first vaccine doses this week, following pledges of support from the United States and Japan.

However, Cris Kacita, head of the DRC's response team, confirmed that the vaccine delivery has been delayed. "No, there are still several processes to follow," Kacita cited. He emphasized that the Congolese pharmaceutical regulatory agency must first establish contact with Bavarian Nordic, the Danish drugmaker producing the mpox vaccine, for guidance before the doses can be shipped to the country. "So we're waiting," he added.

Bavarian Nordic is one of the few pharmaceutical companies currently producing an mpox vaccine. The company informed the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in mid-August that it has the capacity to manufacture 10 million doses by the end of 2025, with up to 2 million doses available for distribution this year.

The arrival of these vaccines is crucial in addressing the disparity in vaccine access that left African nations without doses during the 2022 global mpox outbreak, while Europe and the United States had widespread access. Since January 2023, the DRC has recorded over 27,000 suspected cases and 1,100 deaths, with the majority of fatalities occurring among children.

As the DRC continues to battle the virus, the delay in vaccine delivery adds to the challenges faced by the country in containing the outbreak. The international community's support will be vital in ensuring that the vaccines reach the region promptly, preventing further spread and safeguarding vulnerable populations.