United States Donation of 50,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses Arrives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The United States, through USAID, has delivered 50,000 doses of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support its efforts in combating the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox.

The delivery, completed today, marks a significant milestone in the U.S.-led efforts to assist the DRC in its response to the mpox outbreak. The U.S. government has worked closely with partners on multiple continents to facilitate this donation and streamline regulatory and logistical processes for future vaccine donations.

Collaborating with the Government of DRC and organizations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO, Africa CDC, and UNICEF, USAID is working to ensure that the vaccines reach the communities most at risk for mpox. The U.S. government is also urging other countries to consider providing additional support, including vaccines, to help contain the outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in several African countries a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, with DRC being the most severely impacted country. In addition to vaccination efforts, USAID and other U.S. government agencies have committed over $55 million to response efforts, supporting a range of public health interventions aimed at reducing transmission, morbidity, and mortality related to mpox in DRC and neighboring countries.

These efforts include enhancing surveillance, risk communication, community engagement, laboratory and diagnostics, infection prevention and control, clinical services, and coordination. The U.S. government remains committed to working with partners to combat the mpox outbreak and protect the health and well-being of those affected in the region.