Children Dying of Mpox Are Not First in Line for a Vaccine
- Children account for over 80% of fatal mpox cases in Congo
- Bavarian Nordic shot is missing from pediatric vaccine plan
A health worker discusses treatments with patients at the Munigi mpox center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Photographer: Arlette Bashizi/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Children account for over 80% of mpox deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, yet the first shots to arrive in the country won’t be given to the youngest and most vulnerable patients.
A new vaccine from Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic A/S is set to arrive in Congo next week, but is notably absent from the government’s pediatric vaccination plan, according to public health and aid agencies. Critics say the shot should be included.