U.S. Vaccine Support for MPOX: A Positive Step, but Further Action Required

The U.S. has made strides in supporting MPOX vaccination efforts, but experts emphasize that more comprehensive measures are needed to combat the outbreak effectively.

The attainment of the mpox vaccine by Nigeria marked a significant moment in African history as it became the foremost country on the continent to do so.

To boost its outbreak-fighting measures, it obtained 10,000 doses from the United States last week.

Africa has obtained only a meager quantity of vaccines, and countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo – where the outbreak is concentrated – have yet to receive any doses.

The bureaucracy is causing the delays, according to Andrew Jones, Deputy Director for Immunization Supplies at UNICEF.

At the moment, UNICEF is collaborating with both the government and WHO in implementing a variety of strategies. According to him, there has been much deliberation regarding which approach would be most effective and who should receive immunization. Therefore, significant planning efforts are underway…

Prioritizing additional measures is emphasized by Professor Oyewale Tomori, an expert in Infectious Diseases based in Nigeria.

His declaration was to make sure that appropriate case identification is the initial stage.

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Enhancing surveillance is necessary to efficiently identify cases.

Confirming whether the identified cases are truly monkeypox (mpox) is essential, as there may be other conditions that exhibit comparable symptoms.

Following confirmation, the subsequent actions entail segregating those who have been impacted and tracking their associates for surveillance. In case any of these contacts display symptoms, they must also go through isolation procedures.

UNICEF reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported the greatest number of cases, with more than 18,000 probable infections and 629 deaths; out of these fatalities, children make up 463.

Regrettably, the mpox vaccine that African countries have access to is unsuitable for children.