DR Congo’s Vaccine Race, A Comedy of Errors in the Fight Against Mpox

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the race to control a surging mpox outbreak is unfolding like a tragicomedy. As the DRC gears up for a mass vaccination drive set for October, the hurdles resemble a poorly-scripted drama—only with higher stakes and fewer laugh tracks.

The Congolese government, led by Health Minister Dr. Roger Kamba, is attempting to roll out a massive vaccination campaign amid a chaotic backdrop of armed conflict and logistical nightmares. Imagine trying to deliver pizzas during a city-wide protest—except these “pizzas” are life-saving vaccines and the protests involve armed rebels.

Dr. Kamba has candidly acknowledged the colossal challenge of vaccinating the eastern regions of the country. This area, already a war zone with ongoing battles between the military and rebel groups like the M23, is facing a health system on the brink of collapse. In such a setting, finding a needle in a haystack seems like a walk in the park.

Adding to the complexity, more than seven million internally displaced people are scattered across the country, living in camps where clean water is as scarce as a unicorn. These conditions make them particularly vulnerable to mpox, which is spreading like a bad rumor. The eastern provinces of Ituri, North, and South Kivu have already recorded over 600 deaths due to the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

On September 10, DR Congo received a donation of 65,000 vaccine doses—nice, but barely enough to make a dent. With a population exceeding 100 million, the government’s efforts are akin to tossing a drop of water into an ocean. And while Japan has promised an additional three million doses, the arrival time remains a mystery, like waiting for a bus that might never come.

Logistical challenges abound. Vaccines are being flown to Kinshasa, but getting them to rebel-controlled areas could be likened to navigating a maze blindfolded. Humanitarian organizations might take up to five days to reach regions like South Ubangi, where roads resemble Swiss cheese and transportation options are limited.

Even if the vaccines arrive in time, addressing vaccine hesitancy will be another uphill battle. According to Samuel Boland, WHO’s Africa Regional mpox incident manager, convincing communities to accept the vaccine is as tricky as convincing a cat to swim. With the legacy of vaccine skepticism hanging over DR Congo, health authorities must engage with locals to build trust—a Herculean task in itself.

To keep the vaccines viable, DR Congo’s Kinshasa Kinkole cold storage hub—Central Africa’s largest and powered by solar energy—will store them at a frosty -20°C. Once out of the freezer, the vaccines must be kept between 2°C and 8°C and used within four weeks. It’s a delicate dance of temperature control, with the slightest misstep potentially rendering the vaccines useless.

Dr. Arthur Ngoy, head of the Centre Médical Check-up Santé, has expressed concern about a repeat of the coronavirus pandemic’s devastation among healthcare workers. With many frontline workers in the east lacking basic protective gear, the situation resembles a high-stakes survival game.