By Aaior K. Comfort

Mpox vaccines have been administered in Africa for the first time, with Rwanda leading the rollout, according to the African Union’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). On Tuesday, 300 high-risk individuals received doses near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border, the region hardest hit by the virus.

The DRC reported nearly 22,000 mpox cases and more than 700 deaths between January and August. Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya announced that vaccinations in the DRC are scheduled to start in early October.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through close physical contact and is deadly in some cases. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and boil-like skin lesions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently prequalified the MVA-BN mpox vaccine, enabling global agencies to procure it. Africa CDC reports a total of 29,152 cases and 738 deaths in 15 African countries.

The WHO recommends using the vaccine in outbreak settings, even in infants, children, and pregnant individuals. Current data shows a single dose of MVA-BN is 76% effective against mpox, while two doses increase protection to 82%.