[BUKAVU, YAOUNDE] A smallpox vaccination campaign will begin in the first week of October in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This vaccination campaign comes after the country's health authorities received the first batches of vaccines provided by the European Union (200,000 doses), the United States (50,000 doses) and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) (15,000 doses).
Initially, the vaccines were manufactured in a Danish laboratory. North BavariaIt will be administered in the provinces most affected by the epidemic, particularly Equateur (northern DRC), South Kivu and Sankuru, Jean Kasia, director general of the Africa CDC, said during an online press conference on September 12.
“Thanks to vaccination, we were able to eradicate smallpox in ancient times, and we believe that monkeypox will also be eradicated through the expected vaccination.”
Claude Bazibuhi, Provincial Health Department, South Kivu
According to his explanations, the Congolese government has decided to give two doses of the vaccine to priority targets including health workers, who are on the front line in the fight against monkeypox, people who have been in contact with infected patients, and vulnerable classes…
There is a lot of work to be done before vaccination can begin, including micro-planning, organization and logistics, said Nickeze Ndembe, scientific advisor to the Africa CDC director and Africa CDC smallpox response coordinator, during the conference.
“The DRC is a large country that wants to make sure that everything is in place to ensure smooth transportation of vaccines to the provinces. We know that training of vaccinators has started and logistics are in place. Africa CDC staff will join the provincial teams to support this vaccination campaign,” he said.
“Let's give ourselves a few days of patience to allow for logistics and the deployment of the communications plan,” Jean Cassia added.
emergency
In South Kivu province, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) deals with micro-planning which consists of identifying the needs in all health zones and mobilizing all the capacities that will support this vaccination campaign, Joseph Matundanya, head of the vaccination programme in South Kivu, tells SciDev.Net.
He added: “Vaccination will be carried out in all health areas in the governorate. Signs will be placed in health centers and other well-selected locations. There will be advanced fixed sites and even mobile sites depending on the situation.
The vaccination will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will include three of the 34 health zones in South Kivu province, in this case the health zones of Kamituga (the epicenter of the epidemic in the region), Uvira and Nyangezi.
Joseph Matundanya points out that the second phase will target four regions, most notably the health zones of Kadoto, Ibanda (Bukavu city), Meti Murhesa and Kalehe.
In hospital centres, which are overwhelmed with the arrival of patients, the availability of the vaccine raises hope among medical staff.
“We have already recorded eight deaths out of the 800 patients we treat here. But the arrival of vaccines should make it possible to slow down or even stop the spread of this epidemic,” hopes Robert Musole Mulambamumba, director of the Kavumu Hospital Centre, explaining that his health structure, which is supposed to accommodate 20 patients a day, is completely saturated.
In the Nyangzi health zone, one of the areas most affected by smallpox, more than 1,300 cases have been recorded. For Olivier Kabarate Amani, the head doctor of this health zone, the upcoming vaccination campaign is “good news, because vaccines were already an emergency.”
He stresses that despite the treatment of those already infected, “the disease is spreading in our health area and children are often the most affected. But we believe that thanks to vaccination, we will be able to control the epidemic and, why not, keep it out of harm’s way.
Olivier Kabarati adds that the process of mobilizing the population targeted by the vaccination campaign, in order to better prepare them, is underway. “We are also continuing to raise awareness among the population about respecting the hygiene rules established by the health authorities in order to prevent the spread of smallpox,” he adds.
Safe vaccine
For Joseph Matundanya, the population of South Kivu must prepare to receive the vaccine, because it is “a very effective means that will allow us to limit the spread of this virus that is already causing a huge loss of human life.”
In the same vein, Claude Bazibuhi, a health sciences researcher and communications officer at the South Kivu provincial health department, points out that the Impox vaccine has no negative effects on the human body.
He explains that South Kivu province currently has more than 6,400 cases, including 36 deaths; with about 5,800 patients recovered and 530 others under treatment.
“This vaccination really supports the efforts being made,” […] “There is no need to fear, because thanks to vaccination we were able to eradicate smallpox in the past, and we believe that monkeypox will also be eradicated through the expected vaccination.”
“Let the population prepare and trust the vaccination teams, and we call for compliance with individual and community hygiene rules to continue to limit the spread of the disease while waiting for vaccines,” adds Claude Bazibouh.
The Director-General of the Africa CDC also promised to participate in the launch of this campaign and vaccination “to show the African and Congolese populations that this vaccine is safe.”
However, the vaccine doses received by the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country most affected by smallpox, are not enough, insists Claude Bazibo. The country's authorities have expressed a need for three million doses. “We are calling for increased access to vaccination for all target groups,” he insists.
According to Jean Cassia, 10 million doses are needed for the response in all countries affected by monkeypox.
